DON’T GIVE UP
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”–Gal. 6:9

American Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson arrived in Burma (today Myanmar) in 1812, and died there in 1850. During that time he suffered imprisonment,
torture, and disease. After the death of his beloved wife, Ann, he was so depressed that he sat daily beside her tomb. Three years later, he wrote: ‘God is to me the Great Unknown. I believe in Him, but I cannot find Him.’

But Adoniram’s faith sustained him and he threw himself into a translation of the Bible for the Burmese which he finished in early 1834. Nevertheless, when he died
after 38 years of labor there were less than 20 believers and no churches there.

At the 150th anniversary of the translation of the Bible into the Burmese language, Paul Borthwick was addressing a group that was celebrating Judson’s work. Before he got up to speak, he noticed in small print on the first page the words: “Translated by Rev. A. Judson.” He turned to his interpreter and asked, “What do you know of this man?” The translator, a Burmese Christian, began to weep and said…”We know him—we know how he loved the Burmese people, how he suffered for the gospel because of us, out of love for us. He died a pauper, but left the Bible for us. When he died, there were few believers, but today there are over 600,000 of us, and every single one of us traces our spiritual heritage to one man: the Rev. Adoniram Judson.”

But Adoniram Judson never saw it.

Sometimes we think we aren’t making a difference. That we’re wasting our time trying to help people. That God isn’t blessing. Let’s not forget that we are investing in the future, and only God knows what he intends to do with the labor you are putting forth today. We want instant gratification. With God a thousand years is as one day. When you’re tempted to give up, remember Adoniram Judson.—Copied

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

TWO OPPOSITES
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”--1 John 2:15

No man can love two opposites any more than he can walk in contrary directions at the same time. No man can at once be mean and magnanimous, chivalrous and selfish. We cannot at the same moment dress appropriately for the arctic regions and the tropics. And we cannot wear the habits of the world and the garments of salvation. When we try to do it the result is a wretched and miserable compromise. I have seen a shopkeeper on the Sabbath day put up one shutter, out of presumed respect for the Holy Lord, and behind the shutter continue all the business of the world! That one shutter is typical of all the religion that is left when a man “loves the world” and delights in its prizes and crowns. His religion is a bit of idle ritual which is an offence unto God! 

So I must make my choice. Shall I travel north or south? Which of the two opposites shall I love—God or the world? Whichever love I choose will drive out and quench the other. And thus if I choose the love of God it will destroy every worldly passion, and the river of my affections and desires will be like “the river of water of life, clear as crystal.” — J. H. Jowett

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

YOU HAVE ENOUGH

“And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.”–Exodus 4:1–3

The devil often keeps God’s people from doing what they should for His Kingdom by convincing them that they lack the resources to accomplish what needs to be done. The feeling of inadequacy—that what we have or can contribute is not enough to do the job—may keep us from doing anything at all. Yet the Bible is filled with examples of small things being used by God to accomplish mighty works once they are given to Him. The question is not whether what is already in our hand is sufficient, but whether we are willing to launch out in faith and trust God to work in a great way. F. B. Meyer wrote, “God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.” 

I believe in wise planning and careful living, but at the same time, we cannot leave God out of our thinking. As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The God who took a shepherd’s rod and parted the Red Sea, who took a boy’s sling and killed a giant, and who took another boy’s lunch and fed thousands is able to supply whatever we need to do His work. But God does not work with what we hold back. We must be willing to give what we have and trust Him to see Him supply what is lacking. Faith reaches beyond what is seen and depends on God to do what He has promised. — Daily in the Word

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

A WORD FITLY SPOKEN
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”--Prov. 25:11    

It is well to form the habit of saying kindly things. Sincere words of commendation help all true men and women to live more worthily and to achieve better things. They should be spoken, too, while people live. Kind words come too late when they are held back till death has closed the ears and chilled the heart, when words cannot avail to comfort or help.

Too many people speak the wrong words, too – words that hurt, that fall on sensitive feelings like frost on the flowers. They thoughtlessly allude to matters which are of painful interest. They stir up sad or bitter memories in those who are trying to forget them. They lack the tact which always turns conversation into pleasant channels.

We should all learn the art of pleasant speech. It is not a matter of elocution (art or style of public speaking) or grammar – it is a matter of heart culture. Love must be the inspirer, and there must be the grace of thoughtfulness in word and tone.– Mornings with God

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