MOVED WITH COMPASSION
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”-– Matt. 9: 36-38
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the world and churches were so near perfect that nothing negative need ever be said about it? While we all know that’s not the case, some folks seem to think that we preachers ought to pretend that it is. They don’t want to hear any criticism– unless of course they’re doing the talking. When they come to church (at their convenience)  they don’t want the preacher to rock the boat. They despise being confronted with their faults. Rather than being edified they would rather be entertained. They love a good joke, a sob story, a compliment, or good singing, but no pointed preaching calling for repentance. Life for them is all about pleasure. Pretend they are perfect and they are happy as a lark. Suggest they are sinners and they get as mad as an old wet hen.

Such people are like those described by Paul in 2 Tim. 4:3-4 as “having itching ears“. They look for a pastor and church that will make them feel better about themselves, who will pretend all is well when it isn’t. But if they think to attend a Bible believing church they are looking in the wrong place. As C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you comfortable, I don’t recommend Christianity”. He was right. The commands of Christ are not pleasing to the flesh. I love the way my friend missionary Greg Smith put it. He said, “the itching ears are a false front to disguise our sin of omission. We are suppose to be friends to sinners…fishers of men…makers of disciples”. Indeed we are, and that brings me to my point.

Why is there so little urgency when it comes to our God-given mission in life? Observation forces me to conclude that we are overly excited about all the wrong things– though in and of themselves they might not be wrong. We allow sinless thing to become sinful in that they distract from what we should be doing. While many don’t see this as a serious sin, from the Bible point of view it is moral insanity. We waste our time, energy, money, and opportunities on things of no eternal value– and then have the audacity to brag about what great Christians we are. Something is seriously wrong with that picture!

At least the unsaved Jews of Paul’s day had “a zeal of God“, although “not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). Many professing Christians today don’t. So great was Israel’s passion for God that they were called ” the God-intoxicated people” (John Witmer). Many church members today are more like zombies! The world is rotten to the core and condemned to hell and we act like like it just needs a pep-talk to cheer it up. God help us to look at the harvest field with tears in our eyes, a broken heart, and a burden that drives us to our knees in prayer. As someone said:“Could a mariner sit idle, if he heard the drowning cry?Could a doctor sit in comfort , and just let his patients die?Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand?Can you sit at ease in church, with the world around you damned?
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

Ministering To Christ
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”– Matt. 25:40     

Is it not wonderful that our Lord should identify Himself thus with the hungry and thirsty, the weary and homeless, the outcast and suffering? If any who read these words should be in one of these conditions, be greatly comforted, for Jesus suffered thus in His earthly career, and remembers what it is like. His sympathy and understanding are warm and inexhaustible, and He accepts any kindness as though it were done directly to Himself.

We must be on the outlook for those whom we can help, remembering that the outstretched hand or petition is His. But we must beware, on the other hand, and endeavour to help people wisely. In giving to every beggar that asks alms we may inflict injury on the moral nature by encouraging them to be lazy and careless. We are not to distribute money, food, and clothing alone, but to give personal ministry which may cost us more!

Christ speaks of those who give hand-help to others as righteous, because it is only as we are really right with God that we are merciful to men. Righteousness and mercifulness are one.

The sin of omission! Notice that those who were banished and exiled from the presence of the King were judged because of what they did not do. We may be condemned not simply for actual sins committed, but for what we neglect to do. Not to bind up and care for the wounded or ill-treated, but to pass by on the other side; not to have the oil ready for the lamp; not to make use of the talent or gift entrusted, this involves condemnation, and degrades the soul to the level of the devil and his angels.

Let us ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus, who went about doing good, and healing all who were sick and in need. He has made over the great debt we owe to Him to the poor and needy, and says that whatever we do to others for His sake, He will accept as payment to Himself. 

O God, we have been too self-centred. We have forgotten that our best and happiest life must be lived in fellowship with the needs, and sorrows, and trials of others. Help us to cheer them with our love, to hearten them with our courage, and to bear their burdens so far as we may. Amen.– F. B. Meyer

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

GOD REQUIRES YOUR REQUEST

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer…let your requests be made known unto God “– Philippians 4:6

Prayer is the means God has given us for unburdening our souls. This is important to consciously, biblically affirm. Otherwise, we may feel weighed down with anxiety, with guilt, with discouragement, or with sorrow and yet have no solution for these soul burdens.

Does that perhaps describe you? As a Christian, you have a vague awareness in the back of your mind that we should not be constantly walking around with 1000-pound weights on our souls, but honestly you have forgotten lately what the biblical answer to this problem is.

Paul tells us give our burdens to God in prayer. Now let’s do a quick self-diagnostic here. When we hear Paul’s instruction, does it just sound to us like escapism or positive thinking? If so, then we have accepted our secular culture’s idea of prayer. It is blind faith in faith itself.

The secular idea of prayer is basically just throwing all your garbage up in the air and hoping it does not fall right back down on your head again; because, in the end, there is no one up there to catch it, and hold it, and help you with it! But this is a far cry from the biblical view of prayer, which is taking real problems to a real God, who really does have more strength than us and more wisdom than us. And this God really does care about our difficulties.

Prayer is the way we take our cares to God, the means God himself has given us for unburdening our souls. This is not just escapism or ill-founded optimism. No, this is resting in the concrete assurance of your Creator God that he will save, will deliver, will hear and answer those who come to him in prayer. (Baptist Bible Hour)

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