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

GREAT JOY

“And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”–Luke 24:52–53

When the disciples made their way back to Jerusalem after watching Jesus ascend up to Heaven, they were rejoicing. It was not because they were unaware of the trouble they were about to face. The night before the crucifixion Jesus told them that they would face hatred and persecution for His sake. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). Instead they rejoiced because of Jesus. 

Robert Murray McCheyne said, “The purest joy in the world is joy in Christ Jesus. When the Spirit is poured down, His people get very near and clear views of the Lord Jesus. They taste that the Lord is gracious. His blood and righteousness appear infinitely perfect, full, and free to their souls. They sit under His shadow with great delight. They rest in the cleft of the rock. They lean on the Beloved. They find infinite strength in Him for the use of their soul—grace for grace—all they can need in any hour of trial and suffering to the very end.”

A Christian’s joy is not the result of circumstances, but a result of the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. And it is that joy that equips and strengthens us to resolve that we will carry on no matter what trials or hardships we may face. As the prophet Nehemiah told those post-exile Jews in Jerusalem, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Remember that when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He left the disciples with an enormous task—to preach the gospel in all the world. Yet, because they had a real relationship with Christ and believed His promises of His power for the task, they could go to their assignment with joy. When we lose our joy, we lose our strength for the battle. (Daily in the Word)

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

SPEAKING ABOUT JESUS

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.”–Jeremiah 20:9–10

I read about a little five-year-old girl named Hannah who came to her mother one morning and said, “Mommy, I think Jesus has moved out of my heart.” The mother was concerned about her daughter’s understanding of salvation and security, so she asked the little girl where she thought Jesus had gone. Hannah replied, “Oh Jesus is still inside me. I think He moved to my throat because all I want to do is tell people about Him!”

There are some places in the world today where witnessing must be done with care and caution to avoid persecution or even murder. But that is not why most of us do not witness as we should. We face no serious harassment from sharing the gospel. Someone might say something unkind or even slam a door in our face, although even that is fairly uncommon. We are certainly not facing the kind of threats and violence that often greeted the early followers of Jesus when they told others about Him.

So why are so many Christians silent when it comes to the most important message we can share with others? While there are many causes, the root is found in the heart. If we have appreciation for our own salvation and an understanding of the fate of those without Christ, we will be motivated to be witnesses for Christ. It is not laws that keep us from being faithful witnesses but coldness of the heart. (Daily in the Word)

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

THE COVERING OF SIN

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”—Ps 32:1

    

True blessedness can never come to anyone–until forgiveness has come. Unforgiven sin lies as a heavy curse upon a life. No other favor or prosperity is of any avail while sin remains uncancelled. But with forgiveness, comes all the blessedness of life and glory. When we are forgiven, we become at once God’s children, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to all the rich inheritance of eternal life. All the blessings of salvation are in this one.

We may study also with profit the word “cover.” There is one way of covering sin which brings no blessing. We must not try to cover our own sin. “He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Sins that we cover–are not put away. They are like the quiet fires in the volcano, ready to burst out any moment in all their terribleness. But when God covers our sins they are put out of sight forever out of our sight, the world’s sight, God’s sight.

In one place God says he will remember our sins against us no more. The covering is complete and final. The sins are covered by the atonement of Christ. “All we like sheep have gone astray; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all.” If our sins were laid on Jesus Christ–they are covered forever, and will never rise up against us. (J. R. Miller)

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

REVIVAL“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”–Psalms 85:6

The believer who wants true revival throws away his list of favorite excuses for sin. Confession replaces excuses. Commitment replaces compromise. You might be tempted to say, “But I’ve confessed, tried, and failed so many times—revival just doesn’t last.” A skeptic once made a comment to evangelist Billy Sunday in the early 1900s. He tried to make the point that since personal revival wasn’t a permanent end-all to temptation, sin, and failure, times of revival weren’t really that important. “Revival just doesn’t last,” the man complained to Billy Sunday one evening. Sunday just smiled and replied, “Well, a bath doesn’t last either, but it’s good to take one occasionally!”

Has it ever occurred to you that a great word to describe Christianity is exposure? You become a Christian after being exposed as a sinner. You grow as a Christian after being exposed to your need of change in some area. You confess daily sin as it is exposed in your life. You flourish in your walk as a result of being exposed to the Scriptures. No wonder every Christian is in need of daily revival. We so easily sugarcoat our selfishness and rationalize our rebellion. We manage our sin, but fail to confess it. We conveniently forget how heartbreaking sin is to our heavenly Father.

Revival, then, could be defined as a movement of God’s Spirit in the believer’s life, which produces both private confession of sin and public obedience to the Scriptures. The priority for our outward behavior is to please God—a priority that will undeniably impact  personal relationships, financial decisions, and lifestyle choices. Therefore, revival is not a once-and-done event . . . it is daily. And it should interrupt your life over and over again.

By the way, you can’t plan for revival but you can pray for it. You can’t orchestrate it or announce that it is going to happen in a series of meetings the third week of May. All you can do is beg God to give you a heart that confesses and a life that obeys. So, take His Word daily; ask God to blow on the smoldering embers of your heart, making it burst into flaming affection for Him all over again. While you’re at it, remember that revival is not so much about emotion as it is about action.

Don’t wait for a week of revival meetings to pray, “Revive me, O Lord” . . . do it today! Pray the prayer of David, asking the Lord to create in you a longing for Him, for His Word, for His will, and for His work. (Stephen Davey)

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