“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26

One can only imagine how much of men’s religion is vain, empty, or without profit. Of course, they would not consider it vain; but the Word of God calls it such. The majority of people claim to be religious in some form or another, though many are not active. A large percentage of those who are at least somewhat active are committed to observances that have little meaning, or produce no genuine change in character or conduct. James tells us that they may “seem to be religious,” but their “religion is vain.”

If our religious activity and expression does not affect our attitude and activity, how meaningful is that worship? The Scripture tells us that if a man appears to be a religious person and “bridleth not his tongue,” his religion is worthless. Being able to control our words is only one of our many God-given responsibilities. But, the lesson of James is clear; if our spiritual habits and religious activities do not influence our words, our religion is unprofitable.

God intends for our entire lives to be influenced by our relationship with Him. It seems that many want a form of religion that is socially respectable and soothing to the conscience, but has little affect on our daily lives. The Word of God says that the man with this mentality “deceiveth his own heart.” He makes himself believe that he is a religious person; when in reality, his form of religion is not God-ordained, but man-centered. Much of modern religion could be characterized in this way: It has a form of godliness, but it does not in any genuine way change the way one thinks or lives. It is not pure religion, but vain; and those who practice it are deceiving themselves.

Genuine Christianity includes a transformation of values, attitudes, and actions that proceed from a converted heart. When a person is born again, the process of sanctification begins, which should result in new behaviors, including our words. Anything less is vain religion. Thank God for the power of the Gospel and the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost. Praise His holy name that we become new creatures in Christ! The words of James should be heeded by all, including those who are in Christ. If our relationship with the Lord is not having an affect on our language and general conduct, there is something missing in our walk.- Thomas Smith
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” – John 13:7
Like many other words of Christ, this saying of His has a much wider application than its primary reference to Peter’s perplexity. It furnishes the key to very many of the providences of all our lives. We do not understand them at the time. We do not see how they can have any blessing in them for us. They seem altogether dark. But we have no right to judge of our Master’s work in us or with us until it is finished. “What I do thou knowest not now.” How could we be expected to understand all the Master’s great thoughts?

Yet this is not the end. “Thou shalt know hereafter.” This mystery is to be explained. This perplexity is to be resolved into the clearness of noonday. You do not understand now because you cannot yet see the end, cannot perceive the blessing and the beauty. The Master Himself knows just what He is going to bring out of each strange work of His, and therefore He is not perplexed. Then, He says that we also shall know hereafter. We shall see the cloud as it departs, glorified by the rainbow arching its dark folds. We shall see the tangles resolving into lovely grace and beauty.

Some time, when all life’s lessons have been learned,
  And sun and stars for evermore have set,
The things which our weak judgments here have spurned,
  The things o‘er which we grieved with lashes wet,
Will flash before us, out of life’s dark night,
   As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;
And we shall see how all God’s plans were right,
  And how what seemed reproof was love most true.

 What is the lesson? That we should trust God when we cannot understand His ways with us. No doubt love has planned them all. No doubt there is blessing in the outcome as it lies now in God’s mind. No doubt we shall see the blessing, too, hereafter.- J. R. Miller

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

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:14–16

Commenting on these verses, Paul Chappell gives us this good illustration of our need to be “ready always“. “For many years the United States Army has had an elite team of parachuters known as the Golden Knights. They travel to air shows and exhibitions, putting on a display of skill and courage as they jump together, entertaining millions. Every member of the team is a highly trained expert. They have the latest equipment, and they practice again and again. But in 1973 when the team was on a trip to Kansas for an air show, a plane crash killed all fourteen people on board. They were experts at parachuting, but they weren’t wearing their parachutes on that flight because they didn’t expect to need them.

There are opportunities presented to each of us to make a difference for God’s kingdom. We have opportunities to witness, to comfort, to exhort and to help. Yet if we are not prepared, if we are not ready, we will miss those opportunities. We know that these opportunities are coming because we know they are part of God’s purpose for our lives. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”.  (Ephesians 2:10). Yet too often we do not take advantage of them because we haven’t put on our parachutes. We are not prepared. And that is a tragedy both for us, and for the people on whose lives we should be making a positive impact. Any day you are unprepared is a day you will miss an opportunity to do something for God.”

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

“Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” – Ps 40:4 

This is not what the world says. It calls the man blessed, or happy–who gets on in business, who prospers and grows rich, or who rises to power. It is along the paths to these places of distinction, that the world throngs. There is no scramble for the honors of sainthood. Not many people envy the heroes of Christian faith. Yet as the angels see this world, its highest seats are filled by God’s believing ones. If we study the beatitudes, we shall learn who are really “blessed.” If we trace the word “blessed “ through the Bible–we see who come within the radiant circle.

The man who makes the Lord his trust is blessed. Why? He has been lifted out of the horrible pit. His feet are on a rock which cannot be shaken. He has a joy which nothing ever can break. His trust is one which no storm or flood, no financial panic, no bank failure, no defalcation (misappropriation), no fire, no political defeat–can ever disturb.

Is it not worth while, to have such a secure blessedness? No other trust is absolutely safe, even in this life. Then what about the day of death, and the judgment that comes after, and the  eternity? We cannot leave out these stupendous events, when estimating what is best. It is not hard to prove that none are really blessed, except those whose trust is stayed on God. The question, however, is, Where is your trust? Are you among the blessed? – J. R. Miller

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