“…..for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” –  Neh. 8:10

As much as we might feel like David when he wished he “had wings like a dove” to “fly away, and be at rest” (Psa. 55:6) it’s not going to happen. God repeatedly tells us to expect trials. So since we can’t escape from them we must learn to endure them. And that is a serious struggle for which we need sufficient strength. The question is, where do we find such strength for the struggle?

Neh. 8:10 gives us more than a hint. It says “the joy of the LORD is your strength“. This assures us that we can do more than endure life, we can actually enjoy it. Sadly some folks think of joy as mere luxury. Their attitude is “it’s nice if you can get it”. They don’t understand the great importance and danger of not having it. Since the joy of the LORD is our strength not having it makes us weak and that is dangerous. Without strength we can’t bear up under trials, resist temptation, nor do our duty. Without the joy of the LORD we are sure to fail.

We sing “joy unspeakable and full of glory”, but do you really have it? We speak about the joy of the Lord being our strength, but it isn’t enough to just be able to quote the verse, it ought to become a reality. In the 1930’s Hitler used these very words as the motto for the Hitler Youth Movement. Obviously some people don’t possess what they profess. But for the Christian, the joy of the LORD is available to everyone who is yielded to the Spirit’s control. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” – Psa. 32:11 – HDS
 
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346 

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” – Job 14:1

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee.“-  Psalms 55:22

The Lord’s people are often heavy laden, their burdens are heavy and their grief great; but the Lord kindly directs them to cast every burden upon Him, and promises to sustain them. Guilt in the conscience and a sense of sin in the soul, often prove an intolerable burden; but the Lord will remove it by the blood of His Son, and the whisper of His Spirit. The care of a family sinks the spirit, and fills with distress; but Jesus says, “Cast them all on Me.” Losses, crosses, enemies, temptations, and the inward conflict, often burden the soul; but our God will sanctify them to us, sustain us through them, and deliver us out of them all. Our God has determined that we shall use Him, feel our dependance upon Him, and glory only in Him. Believer, He will sustain thee by speaking peace to thy troubled heart; by enabling you to leave your intricate affairs in His hands; by strengthening you with strength in your soul; and by enabling you to contrast the present with the future. Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory. O Jesus, teach me to bring every burden to Thy feet, and to cast every care upon Thee! – James Smith, 1840

Thou, O Lord, in tender love,
Wilt all my burdens bear!
Lift my heart to things above,
And fix it ever there!

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” – Romans 12:21

What a powerful, concise exhortation this is! In just a few words, Paul sums up the mission of Christian living.

First, be not overcome of evil! There are a thousand different ways in which Satan seeks to tear down our Christian testimony. It may be a temptation to sexual sin, or a tendency toward despair, or a disposition toward anger, or a longing for personal advancement or recognition.

But for all the temptations that may come our way, the remedy is the same, simple command: do not allow evil to overcome you. Stand fast in the Lord and in the power of his strength. Do not give in; do not be puffed up; do not allow your pride or lust or pain to overwhelm you.

And, second, overcome evil with good. The Christian’s posture is not a defensive one. We are to be overcomers, not merely survivors. Not only are we not to give up in fighting sin, we are to counteract the sin in the world by our good lives and conduct. We are to overcome evil.

How can we do that? Not by fighting fire with fire, but rather by overcoming evil with good. There is no other way to successfully battle evil in the world. The goodness of our Savior must be reflected in the good words and works of his people. The more his goodness is displayed, the more sin loses its strength and subtlety.

Don’t be overcome by sin; rather, overcome sin with the goodness of God. – Baptist Bible Hour

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”- Neh 4:10 

There are always croakers and discouragers! They find fault with their part of the work, and object to the methods of those in charge.

We remember how it was with the spies sent to look over the promised land. It was a good country, they said, rich and fertile–but, oh, the giants that were there! So these ten frightened men discouraged a whole nation!

People are forever making it harder for others to live righteously–by going about with their murmurings and groanings!

These people of Judah in Nehemiah’s time, seem to have been only half-hearted. They were not willing to make sacrifices to get the city rebuilt.

Nothing good is ever accomplished without cost! Gold is not picked up in the streets! Half-heartedness is not merely weakness; it is sin! All through the ages, men who have been blessings to the world, have been willing to bear burdens that were too heavy for them. Easy living never accomplished much for God or the world! – J. R. Miller

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346