The Technique of the Towel

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. “- John 13:14.
Our Lord steps from magnificence to meniality: “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands…began to wash the disciples’ feet.” From sublimity to service!
In the early days of Communism one leader wanted to admit all who accepted the theory and purposes of the movement. Lenin insisted that only those who were so devoted as to be willing to do the most menial tasks be received. “Fewer but better” was his motto. He said, “Give me one hundred fanatics rather than a thousand indifferent followers.”
“The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Considering how we have to coax and beg church members to do a few things for our Lord, we can easily see how we are loaded down with excess baggage, nominal disciples who agree in theory but have never learned our Saviour’s technique of the towel.
The average church member would do well to look in his concordance and see how many columns it takes to list all the “serve,” “servant,” “service” references. We come to church to sit but will not go out to serve. ( Vance Havner)
We are not saved so we can just sit, soak, and sour. The saints are called to serve the Savior. We are either serving or sinning! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

WHY WONDER?

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.“- Gal. 6:7
Sometimes I wonder why we wonder. We hear people say, ” I wonder___?”, when it should be no wonder at all. The law of sowing and reaping teaches us that certain things are to be expected. If we sow corn we don’t expect wheat, and we don’t look for apples in a vineyard. Why then do we forget that choices have consequences? When we are disobedient to God we can expect difficulty to follow. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we can sin without suffering for it. To the contrary, Heb. 13:6 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
“Be not deceived” Paul says about the matter. It is foolish to know we have sinned against God and then say, “I wonder why this happened to me?”. Anyone ought to be able to figure that out. It should be no mystery that God chastens us when we sin. Only a fool would stick his hand in the fire the second time expecting to not get burned. Rather than wondering about the after affects of sin we ought to confess it.
Somehow we get the idea that as long as we avoid certain sins it is no big deal if we engage in others. But, while the consequences of some sins are more severe than others, all sins are serious. Danger can come in many forms– disobedience, dishonesty, discontent, disrespect, even doubt. And no one sins successfully. A Christian’s sin doesn’t destroy his relationship with God, but it can destroy everything else. And it usually affects someone else as well.
Why do you wonder about something that is no wonder? If you intentionally shot yourself in the foot would you wonder why there is a hole in your foot? Of course not. It’s common to hear people ask “Why do bad things happen to good people?”. The answer is “Because ‘good’ people aren’t always good”. When a child of God steps out of the will of God he can expect action from God. Although afflictions can come for other reasons, correction is one of the main causes. That being the case, we can eliminate some of the hardships from our lives. Notice, Paul said, “Be not” which means we have a choice and some control in what happens to us. It’s our responsibility to make wise choices. Don’t blame God or someone else for what you bring on yourself.- HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”- 1 Peter 4:10

   Woodrow Wilson was on his whistle-stop train tour of the U.S. when he was President of the United States. The train stopped in Billings, Montana. As was custom, he was standing at the rear of the last railroad car speaking to a crowd from the platform.
   Two little boys elbowed their way through the crowd to get close to the President. One of them offered Mr. Wilson a small American flag, which he gladly accepted. The other didn’t have a flag, so he reached down in his pocket, took out a dime, and offered it to the President. Wilson reached down, took the dime, and thanked the little fellow.
   Five years later, Woodrow Wilson died. As his wife was going through his personal effects, she stumbled across that dime – wrapped in a piece of paper and tucked in the President’s wallet. He treasured that small gift so much that he kept it with him at all times.
   That’s how God feels about you. He treasures even what you feel like is the most meager display of love – a simple word of thanks or act of service. That’s because the heart behind your gift of service is far more important than the gift itself. Don’t ever believe you have nothing to give to God. He loves your faithful service – no matter how big or small! Ask God how you can serve Him in both large and small ways today. ( Senior Living)

Many make the mistake of not doing anything because they can’t do some thing they want to do. Others don’t do anything because Satan has convinced them that their efforts will be in vain. And, some won’t do a little because they can’t do a lot. We need to learn to do what we can with what we have. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”- Rom. 11:33

Our knowledge is limited. We see only little  fragments of truth. We are like children on the shore of the sea, gathering a few pebbles and shells—while the ocean’s depths are hidden from us. Says Zophar: “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?”- Job 11:7-8 
 Job himself, speaking of God’s works in nature and in providence, adds: “Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job 26:14

 We ought to learn the lesson. God is not a man—not one of ourselves. If we could understand him, he would not be God. His greatness puts him beyond our comprehension. We cannot hope to know the reasons for his acts. Some of his ways with us are mysterious. We are perplexed; we say, “God cannot love me—or he would not do these things.” We should learn to trust God even in the deepest mysteries, not expecting to understand—but sure of his love and goodness—even when it is darkest and when his face is veiled in most impenetrable mists. We should be silent unto God, when we cannot fathom Him. That is the truest faith. ( J. R. Miller–revised by HDS)

I’m glad to know that when I look up to God for help in a time of need He is looking down at me with total awareness of my situation. But I am even happier to know that He is with me and able to deliver me.-HDS

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