A GOOD NAME

May 27, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

On Memorial Day in the United States, thousands of people visit cemeteries and monuments to remember and honor their loved ones. They ponder a name carved in stone and recall the person for whom it stands.

This kind of reflection on the lives of those who have gone before us can encourage us to evaluate the way we are living today. When people hear our name, do they think of someone who is faithfully living for Christ?

King Solomon observed: “The memory of the righteous is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7). “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (22:1). “A good name is better than precious ointment” (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

A solid reputation and loving relationships are high achievements. Honesty, integrity, and generosity in life are more valuable than the most expensive funeral. Perfume fades, but the aroma of our lives lingers on.

By our attitudes and actions, we are creating the memories that will be associated with our names in life and in death. Today we have an opportunity to renew our commitment to Christ and to the making of a good name—a name that honors Him and encourages those we love for years to come. Do you have a good name? — David C. McCasland

This is the wish I always make,
The prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives
It touches by the way. —Anon.

“The memory of a faithful life speaks more eloquently than words.” (From Our Daily Bread)

A PROPER ASSESSMENT

May 26, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“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. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”–Romans 12:3–5

The world around us is filled with voices that encourage us to put ourselves first. Advertising, entertainment, and even the news lift up those who promote themselves. In our day, it is common for people without any notable accomplishments to be famous for no other apparent reason than that they are famous. And this is held up as an achievement. The devil is delighted when we listen to any voice that promotes a message different than God does. Someone described the way the world’s advice conflicts with God’s commands this way:

Appetite says, “Be sensuous, enjoy yourself.”
Education says, “Be resourceful, expand yourself.”
Materialism says, “Be satisfied, please yourself.”
Psychology says, “Be confident, fulfill yourself.”
Humanism says, “Be capable, believe in yourself.”
Pride says, “Be superior, promote yourself.”
God says, “Be wise, humble yourself.”

The purpose of the Christian life is not self satisfaction. When we look around us and hold ourselves up as the standard of measurement, we are missing the point. Worse, we are falling into the trap of pride that inevitably leads to a downfall. Instead, we need to view ourselves the way God does—as valuable members of His work because of the gifts and abilities that He has given us. When we do that, we will not lift up ourselves, but instead will lift up the Lord. The view that we take of our role in God’s plan determines whether or not we will be found faithful and humble.

When our focus is on God and His work rather than on ourselves, we will find it far easier to be humble.– Daily in the Word

A LESSON IN LOSING

May 25, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”–Josh 7:12

This is the only record in the Book of Joshua, of a lost battle. The word “therefore” tells us that it was a sin that caused this defeat, a secret sin, and the sin, too, of but one individual. How little do we know of the real causes of the failures we see about us!

All of us have our Ais, too, our defeats in battle; and very often they come just after our Jericho, our victories. It was only a little town, too, at which this disaster occurred, so small that it was thought unnecessary to send more than a handful of soldiers to take it.

Is it not often just so in our spiritual warfare? One writes, “Our greatest failures often happen in the little things of life. We miscalculate the strength of the foe; we fail to spy out the reserved forces. Indeed, we mistake, when we think it an easy matter to subdue any enemy. How often has it happened that he who has won his most signal victory in some great crisis of the church, who has rescued the truth from the teachers of false doctrine, or stormed the entrenchments of vice–has forthwith failed in some petty domestic disturbance, in some social duty, or in a trifling claim of common charity? If there is a time in life when we need more than ever to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation, it is in the hour of success.”– J. R. Miller

Living among others subjects us to many hardships, for which they are responsible, but when we sin we have only ourselves to blame.–HDS

TRUST AND OBEY

May 24, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”–1 Samuel 15:20-22

In 1886, a musician named Daniel Towner was taking part in a D. L. Moody revival campaign in Brockton, Massachusetts. He recounted an experience that took place during a testimony service. A young man described the struggles he had been facing. Towner wrote that he said, “I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” Struck by the turn of phrase, Towner wrote it down and sent it to a pastor named John H. Sammis along with the story. In a few days he received back the poem we know as the song “Trust and Obey.”

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
When we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

There is no obedience to God without faith. If we do not trust Him, we will not obey what He commands and avoid what He forbids. We must believe God can be trusted. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

If our faith is not what it should be, our obedience will be lacking as well.–Copied

LOVE FROM = LOVE FOR

May 23, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”–1 John 3:16

John 3:16 famously declares the love of God, the giving of His Son, and His purpose that whoever believes on His Son will have everlasting life. But 1 John 3:16 takes this truth a step further.

It is true, John says, that genuine love, perfect love is seen in the death of Jesus Christ for us. From this, however, we are meant to learn that genuine love is a sacrificial love.

You see, John explains, not only did the Father give His Son for us, but the Son gave Himself for us! He laid down his life for us. This was not cosmic or divine child abuse, as some have suggested. The cross of Christ is the ultimate display of the perfect and united love of both the Father and the Son.

Such love, though, is meant, not only to save us from hell in the future, but also to deliver us from selfishness and vanity right now. As we look at Jesus on the cross, His sacrificial love for us should lead us to lay down our lives for each other. In fact, John says, the cross makes us indebted (“we ought”) to love each other.

How has Jesus’ love affected you? Does it lead you to more self-absorption or to sacrificial service? Christ’s love for us includes His love for others, and so our love for Him must include a love for others, as well. (Baptist Bible Hour)

A GOOD NAME

A PROPER ASSESSMENT

A LESSON IN LOSING

TRUST AND OBEY

LOVE FROM = LOVE FOR

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