What if you’re wrong?
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”- Romans 12:3

For centuries, people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Anyone, of course, at any time, could’ve taken a heavy object and a light one and dropped them both from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle’s death.

In 1589, Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten-pound and a one-pound weight at the same time. To their amazement, both landed at the very same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right!

Modern physics today proves Galileo was correct. Yet it’s astonishing that these learned men, despite seeing reality before their eyes, would rather assume their preconceptions were correct than accept a new idea.

Very often, it’s our preconceptions and prejudices that cause division among the body of Christ. Even some of the most faithful men and women are guilty of assuming their way of doing things is the right way simply because that’s how it’s always been done. But true humility pushes our own agendas to the side and puts God’s agenda first.

So instead of leaning on what you’ve always thought, trust in what the Bible says is true with fresh eyes, putting your own preconceived notions aside and promoting unity among believers instead of division.

Ask God to show you areas where you’ve assumed your way is the only way. Pray that He would release you from that and be a force for unity among the body of Christ.– “Senior Living”

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

THE ONLY CURE

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”–Acts 4:10–12

Though many people like to think that they are okay because they are not as bad as some others, the reality is that all of us are sinners. Every person born into this world is born under the curse and penalty of sin. And despite what some people say, there is only one way sin can be forgiven and our relationship with God changed from our natural enmity toward Him to becoming part of His family—through accepting the salvation freely offered through Jesus Christ. No other solution is available, and if someone chooses to follow another path, he is heading toward destruction.

Dr. John R. Rice told of a man who had a sore on his cheek. He said, “The sore seemed incurable. It grew larger and worse. Surely, his friends said, it was cancer. He should have gone at once for treatment or surgery. But no, he read an ad in the paper where a quack doctor offered to sell a salve that would cure cancer. He bought the salve, boasted that he had saved the doctor’s expense and the pain of surgery, and applied the salve diligently. The sore healed over on the outside, but went on with its deadly work, and after awhile the man died of cancer. He would not call for help though he desperately needed it.” It is a tragedy for people to remain lost because they will not take God’s offer. The only hope of salvation is when we accept God’s offer of Christ’s substitutionary payment for sin.– Daily in the Word

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

GO SOFTLY

“What shall I say?  he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it:  I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.”–Isaiah 38:15

   Hezekiah was a truly outstanding king in Judah.  He obeyed the Lord and removed many of the images of false worship from the land.  It is said of him in II Kings 18:5, “He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.”  

   The Bible tells us how Hezekiah became sick unto death.  He earnestly prayed to the Lord.  God heard his prayer, and God mercifully promised to add fifteen, years to his life.  How appreciative the king was for the gracious, transforming touch of God upon his life.  Hezekiah’s thankful response to God’s goodness toward him included these words: “I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.”  Hezekiah knew that his life had been extended.  The phrase “go softly” carries the idea that he would walk humbly and gratefully all of his life, remembering the bitterness of his sickness from which he had been delivered.  Hezekiah was determined never to forget how fortunate and blessed he was.  The awareness of what God had done for him would serve to keep him in the right frame of mind for the remainder of his days.  

   The way the Lord had blessed him would have an affect on the way he lived the rest of his life.  Shouldn’t the same be true of each of us?  God has been so good to us.  He has provided salvation for us through the death of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  No one ever cared for us the way our God cares for us.  He has promised an eternal home in Heaven for each one who wholly turns to Christ and receives the gift of eternal life.  He has placed us in a New Testament church where the Word of God is preached.  God has made it possible for us to own a copy of the precious Word of God.  He has placed His Holy Spirit within us at the time of our new birth, and has promised never to leave us.  God has not added a mere fifteen years to our lives; He has added abundant and eternal life to our existence.  

   May we never get over God’s goodness.  The awareness of what He has done for us should affect the way we live.  Our attitude along this journey of life should reflect how we have been touched and transformed by the gracious hand of the Almighty.–Thomas Smith

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