“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Rom 8:18 

What is to be compared with the salvation of the soul? What are riches, honors, health, long life? What are all the pleasures which the world can offer, sin promise, or the flesh enjoy? What is all that men call good or great? What is everything which the outward eye has seen, or natural ear heard, or has entered into the carnal heart of man, put side by side with being saved in the Lord Jesus Christ with an everlasting salvation?

For consider what we are saved from, as well as what we are saved unto. From a burning hell to a blissful heaven; from endless wrath to eternal glory; from the dreadful company of devils and damned spirits, mutually tormenting and tormented, to the blessed companionship of the glorified saints, all perfectly conformed in body and soul to the image of Christ, with thousands and tens of thousands of holy angels, and, above all, to seeing the glorious Son of God as he is, in all the perfection of his beauty, and all the ravishments of his presence and love.

To be done forever with all the sorrows, troubles, and afflictions of this life; all the pains and aches of the present clay tabernacle; all the darkness, bondage, and misery of the body of sin and death; to be perfectly holy in body and soul, being in both without spot, or blemish, or any such thing, and ever to enjoy uninterrupted union and communion with the Father, Son, and blessed Spirit—O what a heaven lies before the believing saints of God as the end of their faith in the salvation of their souls! – J. C. Philpot

God has big plans for His children. He has prepared glorious things for them, the likes of which words cannot describe and the imagination cannot capture. Cheer up children. The best is yet to come! – HDS

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

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. — It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” – Psa. 119:67, 71

No one likes to hurt. People go to great extremes to avoid or escape it. But, as strange as it might seem, hurt can help. That might seem like an odd way of getting help, and we certainly won’t ask for it, but it is true nonetheless. As Octavius Winslow wrote, “Affliction is to the believer what the wing is to the lark, and what the eye is to the eagle—the means by which the soul mounts in praise heavenward, gazing closely and steadily upon the glorious Sun of righteousness.” He was right. The advantages of afflictions are many, one of which is instruction.

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

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” Romans 8:26

Every person on earth needs help and every sane person is aware of it. Fortunately God knows, cares and can help! One of the most encouraging verses in the Bible for me is Rom. 8:26. Knowing that the same Spirit that raised Jesus up from the dead is our helper (Eph. 1:19-20) gives me the hope of help. It can do the same for you. James Smith said it far better than I could. In 1840 he wrote:

“We are compassed with infirmities; we know but little of ourselves; we know not what would be best for us; we know not what is coming upon us; we know not Satan’s position or design; we know but little of God’s provision or intention, we are as weak as we are ignorant, weak to withstand evil, weak to perform good, weak to obtain benefits; our infirmities, many of them are constitutional, arising from our tempers and dispositions, from bodily ailments, and from the smallness of our capacities. But though thus infirm, Jesus is touched with a sympathetic feeling for us, and the Holy Spirit is given to assist us. He teaches us what we want, leads us to the precious promises, furnishes us with the prevailing plea, excites us to pray, and assists us in prayer. He produces the ardent desire, bestows the wrestling power, and warms the affections while pleading; gives us such a keen sense of what we need, and such an ardent desire after it, that unutterable groans are begotten, to which God attends. Let us daily seek the Spirit’s power to help.” 

Spirit of interceding grace,
I know not how or what to pray;
Relieve my utter helplessness,
Thy power into my heart convey;
That God, acknowledging my groan,
May answer, in my prayers, His own.

David Stone

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

“For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” – Luke 22:27

“I know whom I have believed.” – 2 Timothy 1:12

Yesterday I spoke about the fact that “Abraham believed God”. Sadly some folks misunderstand what it means to have faith in God. They refer to faith as “blind trust”. But faith isn’t blind at all. It’s focus is on God and His word. I love what the late Vance Havner said about such people. He wrote:

“Once in a while somebody speaks of “staking all on Christ,” or risking everything on God’s promises, as though it were a glorified gamble. But we are not gambling when we venture on God’s Word. Staking something on an uncertainty is a gamble, but when we commit to Christ we are depending on an absolute certainty that cannot fail. It is one thing trying to get on by auto-suggestion, trying to imagine what may or may not be actually true. It is another thing venturing on something we know is true, though sometimes it may not be real to us. Then we may with confidence live as though it were true because it is.

God’s promises are true, forever settled in heaven. Jesus is true. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but never His words. Paul knew whom he trusted. There is no chance about it, but absolute certainty. We are risking nothing when we trust Him. He will keep the deposit.”

I say “Amen” to that. Paul didn’t say “I know what I believe”, although he certainly did. He said, “I know whom I have believed“. There’s a big difference between “what” and “whom“. If you get the latter right it will take care of the former and everything else. You can rely on God’s Word. His promises are a reality rather than a risk. He who is persuaded of that will be at peace because he knows that God is able and that makes all things possible. – HDS

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