MY GREATEST DISCOVERY
“O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”–Ps. 119:97
When I was a boy I loved to wander through the woods to see what I could discover. And in the Ozarks you never knew what you might find—arrowheads, caves, springs, sink holes, remains of an old homestead, etc. It was exciting. However, as soon as I became a Christian I found something even more exciting. My greatest interest became the Word of God.
Since I wasn’t raised in church or familiar with the Bible I discovered something new every time I opened God’s Word. Now, more that half-a-century later I’m still looking and discovering precious treasures from that blessed old book. The thrill has never left me and if I lived a 1000 years I couldn’t exhaust that vast storehouse of truth. How could you not be interested in what the Creator of the universe has to say?
But it is more than interesting. Not only does it give me information and inspiration, it imparts what I need to live the life it demands. It informs, and transforms. I would give every penny I have if I could pass this desire on to those I love. I feel that way because I know what they are missing when they fail to study God’s Word. It tears my heart out to see them depriving themselves of this great gift to man. If you have the slightest doubt about your need of this please meditate on Psalms 119. That ought to give you some idea as to the importance of God’s Word in your life. I can tell you about it but nothing takes the place of actually experiencing it for yourself. As Job 23:12 says, “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.--HDS

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

WELL DONE
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”–Matt. 25:21
Multitudes are obsessed with the idea of success. Numerous books, seminars, programs, etc. promise to make you successful. The problem is that most people don’t know what true success is. In their mind it is getting what they desire– especially when it impresses others, as they love being admired. God, however has a very different opinion. Success in His sight is faithfulness to His will. He isn’t impressed with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Success is more than fortune, fame, or fulfillment. It is the faithful discharge of our God-given duties. That is our main purpose, greatest pursuit, and highest prize. It is the only thing required to please God and the only thing that truly satisfies self.
Nothing better could be said of a person than they are faithful. That embraces all their duties. It goes beyond what they do. It includes what they are. Both conduct and character are involved. We are not truly faithful if we are faithful only in certain areas. Excelling in one thing does not justify failing in another. Knowing we shall stand before the Lord who gave His all for us, let us give our best to Him. Hearing Him say “Well done thou good and faithful servant” will be reward enough! One of my favorite songs is “When I hear Him say well done”, by the Perrys. I couldn’t resist posting the lyrics below. HDS
Verse 1
Weary pilgrim, fellow traveler, wounded soldiers just be strong.
We are only passing through this world; we really don’t belong.
So don’t let the heat of battle keep you from your just reward.
There’ll be cause for celebration when we stand before the Lord.

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

“IF CHILDREN“
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”–Rom. 8:17

Since, Lord willing, I will be preaching a message entitled ‘From grief to glory” from this verse this morning, I encourage you to pay close attention to this article. Here Paul speaks about who we are and what we have in Christ. But before we talk about that we need to consider the little word “if”, it is of huge importance. The glorious truths of which he speaks all hinge upon us being “the children of God“(vs. 17). There will no glory unless God is our Father.

He doesn’t say, “If we are church members, Baptist, good neighbors, etc. He speaks of us being a child of God. The “if” comes before the “then“. Only “if” we are children of God are we “heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. The blessings follow the believing, by which we become the children of God ( Gal. 3:26). We must have faith in the Son before we are children in the family. Until we enter God’s family we have no hope of glory. As Paul said to the Colossians, it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory:” ( Col. 1:27).

Pretending you are a child of God isn’t good enough. Hoping you are a child of God won’t help. And making a wild guess at how we become children of God won’t save you. Whether or not you are a child of God is something you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt (1 John 5:13). It is something you will know because it is the result of believing. It is not a think so, hope so, maybe matter. If you truly believe you know it. Do you?

Knowing Christ as your Savior is not only the hope of glory, it opens the storehouse door to all we need while we groan with grief in this present wicked world. Were there no heaven or hell the Christian life would still be far better than anything else. It’s my prayer that you will avail yourself of this opportunity to become a child of God! — HDS

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