DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENTS

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”- 1 Cor. 15:58

It is heart-breaking to see good people get in a bad place due to discouragement. It doesn’t have to happen. By taking great care we can avoid becoming a drop-out. But we have to start by dealing with our disappointments. We put ourselves in great danger if we don’t. If we allow our disappointments to discourage us it will deter us from our duty.

As servants of God we do what we do with the hope of success. We want to be fruitful as well as faithful. We want to see souls saved, lives changed, needs met, and God glorified. When our efforts seem to fail we are disappointed. We tell ourselves that even Jesus could do no mighty works in Nazareth, but we hope for better results. When it doesn’t happen the battle begins and we must defeat our disappointment lest it develops discouragement and ends in disaster.

Winning this battle is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes we let our disappointment drain our energy, dash our hopes, and derail our progress. If we fail to fight through it our work comes to a screeching stop. The solution is not to decrease our desires. We wouldn’t be worth a plug nickel without a desire to do. But we must not expect every desire to be fulfilled immediately.

In times like these we must remember that it is God who gives the increase – we only plant the seed. Even our very best efforts will not always meet with the success we hope for, but we must press on. We must focus on being faithful and leave the results in God’s hands. One way or another, some day. Some how God will bless our efforts. Our labor in the Lord will not be in vain (I Cor.15:58). – HDS

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

YOUR REMAINS

“-—he being dead yet speaketh” – Heb.11:4

Have you ever thought about your remains? I’m not talking about your body, and whether you will be buried or burnt. The true value of your life isn’t found in what remains of your body. Nor am I talking about your bank account or material goods. Your possessions will probably end up in a garage sale or in a box, or in the trash.

But the fact remains, you will leave some remains. After they put your body in a box, in a hole in the ground, and throw six feet of dirt in your face, and everyone leaves the cemetery, your influence will remain. Like an invisible hand it will reach out and touch the lives of those you know. Your influence, for good or bad, will guide others long after you die. You will be gone but your memory and influence will remain. You will outlive your life.

Have you ever thought about what you’re going to leave when you leave? And rest assured, you are going to leave – “–-it is appointed unto men once to die-–” (Heb.9:27). Not only are you going to leave, you’re going to leave something. So instead of wasting your life on things of no value focus on what will remain after you’re gone.

Each of us make a deposit into the lives of others and sometimes what we leave is of greater value than what we did while living. Whether you realize it or not, others are depending on you. Their future will be greatly affected by your remains. They might not even realize to what great extent they are affected by you, but it is undeniable. Your attitude and actions influence them, just as the invisible wind moves the ship at sea. Your remains can become their riches. Like Abel you will speak from your grave — what will you say? – HDS

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

CALLING EVIL GOOD

“Like unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter?” – Isa.5:20.

This is not a new problem, but perhaps it is, more prevalent today than ever before. Not only have we changed the names of sins we have actually sought to change the very nature of sin – calling “evil good, and good evil.” And we haven’t merely blurred the lines of distinction between right and wrong, we have literally labelled what’s right “wrong.” And it’s not just the person in the pew who is guilty of this it is also preachers behind the pulpit who have promoted these views. Rather than tackle the tough issues, making themselves unpopular, they have caved in to the desires of the unbelievers.

Pastor Thomas Smith wrote “Immorality is glamorized, slothfulness is rewarded, and dishonesty is respected – what was and accepted as good is now considered evil. Purity is scoffed at, godliness is unpopular, and true Christianity is seen by many as a menace to society.”

So what are we to do? We find ourselves in a conflict with the world which is getting worse and worse, are told to be tolerant, and threatened if we don’t accept the perverted views of a sin sick society. So, what shall we do? The answer is simple. We must continue to stand for the truth. The truth is defined for us in the word of God, and without it we have no sure standard of right and wrong. God’s word also reveals our responsibility to God. It isn’t just a matter of knowing the truth we are also required to live according to it and to proclaim it to the world. I pray that God will give us the courage to stand for what’s right and against that which is wrong.That’s the only safe path. – HDS

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