DO YOU KNOW?– DOES IT SHOW?
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:6-10)
It happens everyday. I’m talking about the failure of professing Christians to give evidence that they are truly saved. While we all act out of character and fail at times, the manner of life for some people is un-Christian. Both their attitude and actions are unlike Christ — habitually, not just on occasionally. That’s a cause for great concern.
Do they not know? Do they not care? How can a person know or care enough to see the importance of professing Christ as their Savior and then be so careless in their manner of life? Yet it happens all the time– and raises serious questions. Do they make a profession simply to ease their conscience, or to convince others that all is well with them spiritually? Are they deceived as to what true salvation is? The fact that they show no concern about examining themselves, nor interest in exhortation from God’s word forces us to conclude that they are indeed deceived. Especially when we their lifestyle is anything but Christ-like.
Let’s face it, it’s common to see certain sins deeply ingrained in the lives of people who claim to be Christians. Things such as pride, selfishness, dishonesty, anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. And yet these folks will argue until they are blue in the face that they are good Christians. Really! It is no wonder that the world is repulsed by such claims, and so quick to label all Christians hypocrites. That calls for attention.
John wrote his first epistle “that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13), and he warns us about such a life-style ( 3:6-10). What John said should cause some folks to quake in their boots! Contrary to what they think, say, or feel there is no evidence that they have been born again. So, judged from the scriptures, do you know? Does it show?–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE
“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”- Ps. 37:39
Times of trouble try the saint of God, and they are meant to do so; that is the very purpose why they are sent, for “the Lord tries the righteous.” Still the promise holds good—“he is their strength in the time of trouble.” When he breaks up the fountains of the great deep of sin and iniquity, he strengthens his people that they may not be carried away by the flood. When he hides his face, he strengthens them to say, “Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him.” When temptation besets them severely, when they are put into the furnace, the Lord is with them there, as he was with the three men whom Nebuchadnezzar cast in. The Son of God is there with them, so that not a hair of their head is singed, nor does the smell of fire pass upon them (Dan. 3:27).
In all their afflictions he is afflicted, and by sharing it with them supports them under it. He is thus their strength; for he strengthens them with strength in their soul. He enables them to bear the weighty cross—to sustain the heavy load of trial and affliction—to put their mouth in the dust as needing and deserving his chastising strokes, and submit to his righteous dispensations and dealings as plainly sent by a gracious and loving hand.
And ever and anon he drops in a sustaining word, gives an encouraging look, bestows a soft and healing touch, and thus helps them to wait in faith and hope until in due time he sends full deliverance. Thus he helps and delivers, and will do so in every time of trouble down to their dying-bed, when he will give them their full and final deliverance from the body of sin and death, and a world full of iniquity and sorrow.- J. C. Philpot
I have said at least a thousand times, “For the Christian the best is always yet to come”. Here’s why– Knowing the best is yet to come should keep us going in the worst of times, for neither life nor labor is in vain in the Lord! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

CHRIST, THE GREAT CONSTANT
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”- Heb. 13:8
Of this verse, J. C.Philpot wrote, “The eye of our faith must be ever fixed on Jesus, for the Person of Christ is the grand object of faith, and to lose sight of him is to lose sight of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Is he not the same Jesus now that he was on earth? He is exalted, it is true, to an inconceivable height of glory, so that when John saw him, even as if in some measure veiled, he fell at his feet as dead. But he is the same Jesus now as when he was the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as he wears the same human body, so he has the same tender, compassionate heart. All that he was upon earth as Jesus, he is in heaven still. All that tenderness and gentleness, all that pity to poor sensitive sinners, all that compassion on the ignorant and on those who are out of the way, all that grace and truth which came by him and were manifest in him, all that bleeding, dying love, all that sympathy with the afflicted and tempted, all that power to heal by a word all manner of sickness and disease, all that surpassing beauty and blessedness whereby he is to those who have seen him the chief among ten thousand and the altogether lovely One, he not only retains in the highest heavens, but is, so to speak, endowed with greater capacity to use them, for all power is given to him in heaven and earth, and all things are put under his feet, and that not only for his own sake, but that he might be the Head over all things to the Church.”
In this ever changing corrupt world we live in, it is a great comfort to know that Christ is the great constant that we can depend on for every need. Let us never be so foolish as to suppose that we have a problem greater than His power. He was, is, and always shall be exactly what every person needs most. Whatever your need, He knows, He cares, and He can help!- HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346