“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”- Romans 6:16–18
One of the most effective deceptions practiced by Satan is to convince people that they have a choice to be completely free in the world—making their own decisions and going their own way. This lie has led countless people to destruction. The truth is that every man, woman, and child born into this world is a servant to something. The only freedom we have is in the choice of what we will serve. By the power of God through the gospel, we are offered the choice to serve righteousness rather than sin. But if we do not exercise that choice, even as believers, we will live in bondage to sin.
The illusion of freedom is quickly shattered once the consequences of sin begin to appear. The fleeting pleasures of sin are quickly replaced by chains and bondage. The harvest of the seeds that we sow cannot be avoided. The choice that leads to freedom from God’s service inevitably leads to bondage to Satan. The choice that leads to freedom from sin places us in binding service to God.
Consider the Prodigal Son. When he left his home for the far country, he thought he was moving toward freedom. He would leave behind his father’s rules and live as he chose. Instead he found himself with the dirty job of feeding pigs—and being so hungry he was coveting what they ate. That is the path we choose when we decide to pursue freedom by throwing off the “shackles” of God’s requirements. It only leads to slavery and suffering. There is no true freedom apart from choosing to serve God and righteousness in this world. — Daily in the Word

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

“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them”- Neh. 4:9

We are in danger of making prayer a substitute for duty; or of trying to roll over on God, the burden of caring for us and doing things for us—while we sit still and do nothing! When we pray to be delivered from temptation—we must keep out of the way of temptation, unless duty clearly calls us there. We must also guard against temptation, resist the Devil, and stand firm in obedience and faith. When we ask God for our daily bread, pleading the promise that we shall not lack—we must also labor to earn God’s bread, and thus make it ours honestly.

 A lazy man came once and asked for money, saying that he could not find bread for his family. “Neither can I!” replied the industrious mechanic to whom he had applied. “I am obliged to work for it!”
 While we pray for health—we must use the means to obtain it.
 While we ask for wisdom—we must use our brains and think, searching for wisdom as for hidden treasure.
 While we ask God to help us break off a bad habit—we must also strive to overcome the habit.

 Prayer is not merely a device for saving people from toil, struggle and responsibility. When there is no human power adequate to the need—we may ask God to work without us, and in some way He will help us. But ordinarily we must do our part, asking God to work in and through us, and to bless us through faithful obedience.– J. R. Miller
“Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”- Col. 1:29

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

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” –Philippians 1:10

As you read this please consider the what ( “That ye may approve things that are excellent”); why ( “that ye may be sincere and without offence “); and when ( “till the day of Christ.”). That is a tall order, but absolutely essential to a life that is pleasing to God. He will have it no other way. This is the standard to which we are expected to conform. A writer unknow to me said:

“If divine light has enlightened your mind, and divine life quickened your heart, and you love the Lord and his people, you must approve of the things that are excellent. For they are so commended to your conscience that you can no more do otherwise than you can tell a deliberate lie or call black white. And as you approve of them, you will disapprove of everything which is contrary to, or falls short of this excellency.

 Now this is what distinguishes us from the world and the spirit of it, and from all whose eyes are blinded by the god of this world–that while they approve of the things God abhors, we approve of the things that God loves. Here is the mind of Christ; here is the teaching of the Spirit giving us in some measure to see as Christ sees, to feel as Christ feels, to love as Christ loves, and to approve as Christ approves. We shall never go far wrong so long as we are approving the things that are excellent, and seeking, as the Lord may enable, to know the will of God and do it.

 But directly we lose sight of this spiritual standard and set up the opinion of men, then our eyes get blinded, our hearts hardened, our consciences benumbed, and instead of approving the things that are excellent, we may gradually and insensibly drift into the very spirit of ungodliness.”

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

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”- Col. 2:6The daily walk of the Christian soul is so absolutely important because it is our witness to the world. Our character, as exemplified in our behaviour, is the world’s only Bible and sermon (2Co 3:2-3). Let us learn to walk so as to please God, and to bless mankind. To walk is at first a matter of considering every little step, but afterwards it becomes the habit of the soul (Col 1:10).

 We received Jesus into our hearts by faith. He entered through the open door and became our Lord and Master. In the same manner we must live always and everywhere, receiving from Him, by faith, grace upon grace, and allowing what He works in to work out in all manner of godliness, tenderness, and Christlikeness. This practice of looking to Jesus for grace in every circumstance of life tends to become more and more habitual–and this is what the Apostle means when he says, “Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith.”But such a walk is only possible when we have learned to “crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal 5:24). The flesh is the assertion of our self-life, whether in lesser or grosser forms, but whenever self intrudes it exercises a baleful influence on our behaviour and conversation. Just as the iron of the steamer will deflect the needle of the compass, so the intrusion of our self-life will act as a drag upon our character and walk.
How can we crucify the flesh? Only by allowing the Holy Spirit to have supreme control. He makes the Cross every day dearer and more effective. He will conquer evil habits in us and for us, while we stand by as more than conquerors through His grace. If we will be led by Him, there will not only be deliverance from the self-life, but He will produce in us the fruit of holy living which will please God and refresh men.

 Let Thy Holy Spirit be continually with us, and may we feel the powerful effects of Thy Divine Grace constantly directing and supporting our steps. AMEN.– F. B. Meyer

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