THE POTTER

“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.”  – Jeremiah 18:3-4

The making of pottery is one the oldest arts known to men. A potter takes clay and molds it and squeezes it until it is soft and pliable. It is a beautiful thing to watch: a vessel of beauty or a vessel of service, or both, emerge from that ugly clay.

God is the potter.  We are His workmanship.  God is the Master Workman, working on us. Think of yourself as the clay and see what God can do with you, for He is at work in your life.

Though you may not understand it now, every turn of the wheel has been a part of God’s plan. If He does not rule, God overrules. He’s going to turn every Calvary to an Easter, every midnight to a sunrise. He is going to turn every tear to a pearl and make a diadem for you.—Adrian Rogers

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

THE WAYS OF WISDOM
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy– James 3:17

What a wonderful, and revealing, description of heavenly wisdom!

When we become embittered or angry with another person, even a spouse or a fellow church member, we can justify a great variety of cruel words, divisive gossip, or vengeful actions. Sadly, we can even begin to think of ourselves as being in the right while we spread lies or exaggerate offenses or nurse grudges.

But the ever-practical pastor James reminds us not to “glory in” or be proud of the bitterness, anger, strife that is in our heart (14). No matter how objective and genuine our grievance may be, we make ourselves immediately in the wrong when we respond in a way that is dishonoring to Christ.

No matter what the argument or hurt may be, James says, remember that heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be approached. Godly wisdom is full of mercy, so it looks over personal injuries; it is full of good fruits so it responds with a formidable love when attacked or provoked.

A truly wise response will also be without partiality or favoritism. It does not judge someone because of past mistakes, or personality flaws, or family ties. A mature Christian will react with the same forbearance and discretion and charity to a near stranger as they will to a family member (or visa versa!).

Dear Christian, is your present thought life and behavior reflecting the kind of wisdom that comes from above, or the kind that is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish? (A Good Thing)

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

A Wonderful Guarantee 

I will strengthen thee. (Isaiah 41:10) 

When called to serve or to suffer, we take stock of our strength, and we find it to be less than we thought and less than we need. But let not our heart sink within us while we have such a word as this to fall back upon, for it guarantees us all that we can possibly need. God has strength omnipotent; that strength He can communicate to us; and His promise is that He will do so. He will be the food of our souls and the health of our hearts; and thus He will give us strength. There is no telling how much power God can put into a man. When divine strength comes, human weakness is no more a hindrance.

Do we not remember seasons of labor and trial in which we received such special strength that we wondered at ourselves? In the midst of danger we were calm, under bereavement we were resigned, in slander we were self-contained, and in sickness we were patient. The fact is that God gives unexpected strength when unusual trials come upon us, We rise out of our feeble selves. Cowards play the man, foolish ones have wisdom given them, and the silent receive in the self-same hour what they shall speak, My own weakness makes me shrink, but God’s promise makes me brave. Lord, strengthen me “according to thy word.” (Faith’s Checkbook)

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

MY HELPER

“So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:6

If you are going to face this year with steadfast resolve, you must find your contentment, your companionship, and your confidence in Christ. And then you’ll find your comfort in Christ. Then you may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

I’m not trying to tell you life’s going to be all honey and no bees. No, the Christians in the book of Hebrews faced heartaches and trials. They had opposition from family, friends and foes alike. They faced mockery and brutality. Yet they could boldly say, “The Lord is my helper.”

Friend, this coming year may be difficult for you. But I am telling you that you can stand upon the promises of the Word of God.

We don’t know what the coming year will bring—sickness, heartache, or trouble. But I do know that you can boldly say, “The Lord will be my helper. I will not fear what man shall do to me.” Find your contentment, your companionship, and your confidence in Jesus. In Him you will find your comfort and your courage.–Adrian Rogers

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

THE DEATH OF SAINTS

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”– Psalm 116:15

From our perspective it is the greatest grief we can imagine; from God’s perspective it is the delight of His heart. From our perspective, it brings a sorrow that only heaven can erase; from God’s perspective, it brings a joy that only heaven can know.

How can the death of His people be so precious in the sight of the Lord? Doesn’t He care about the gaping wound that loved ones leave behind on earth? Is He not sensitive to the pains and anguish that usually precede our own death? Why would anything so grievous to us be so precious to God?

The answer, of course, is that God loves more, sees more, and wants more for us than we love, see, or want for ourselves or loved ones. God sees the majesty, sweetness, purity, and perfection of each glorified saint as they cross over from this cursed earth and put on the robes of Christ’s righteousness.

If we could see just how delightful heaven is, just how joyful we will be there, and just how overwhelmingly sweet it will be to live in the presence of Jesus Christ forever, we would doubtless find death as precious as God does.— Baptist Bible Hour

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