“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” – Genesis 50:19-21

Samuel Bringle was a worker with the Salvation Army in Boston many years ago. As he passed by a saloon, some men threw a brick at his head. Their aim was good, and Bringle nearly died. As it was, he spent eighteen months in recovery. During that time he wrote a little book entitled Helps to Holiness. Thousands of copies were published. After he was able to begin preaching again, people would often thank him for the book. He would respond by saying, “If there had been no little brick, there had been no little book.” His wife saved the brick and had Genesis 50:20 engraved on it.

The difference between people who trust God even through difficult times and trials and those who do not is found in the way they view those trials. Godly Christians have the same problems, heartbreaks and even tragedies as everyone else. They are not somehow exempt from suffering. But they view their difficult circumstances through the lens of an understanding of God’s love and purpose for their lives.

One preacher said it well, “The only thing an enemy can do to you is to be the unwitting instrument of God’s plan for your life.” Of course many things happen that are painful and hard for us to endure. Yet those circumstances do not mean God has forgotten or forsaken us. He makes “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). This helps us understand that even the most difficult things we experience are a necessary part of His plan. View your problems and difficulties as something God can and will use to make you a better servant for Him. (From Daily in the Word)

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

“And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well…”– Mark 7:37 

What the Lord does is often called into question by foolish people. Sometimes it is even despised and denounced. We don’t always understand or approve of His ways. Things happen that we would never invite into our lives, yet they come to us nevertheless. Yet our text tells us, and history bears out the fact, that He does all things well. Someday that will be the testimony of all.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

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

“Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” – Matthew 18:21-22

As sinners living in an imperfect world, there is not a person on earth who doesn’t need to forgive or to be forgiven. While we receive forgiveness with ease we often struggle to extend it. Forgiving others can sometimes be one of the greatest challenges in life. The following counsel from the Baptist Hour gives some great insight on this subject.

“If we are honest with ourselves, Peter’s question is one we all would have wanted to ask. Exactly how many times is it necessary to forgive the same person? To Peter, and to our natural reasoning, seven times seems fairly generous.

But Jesus counters with a grudge-shattering, jaw-dropping figure that is in itself clearly intended to end all our attempts to mark and number each other’s offenses. Turn the pencil around and erase all the wrongs you have carefully been taking note of. Complete and immediate forgiveness, Jesus says, is still in order.

Sometimes it is not so much the number of wounds as the magnitude of one great injury that makes it difficult to forgive. A spouse that was unfaithful, a rumor that was started, or a gaping need that went unnoticed. As C.S. Lewis observes, in such cases it is necessary to forgive, not just 490 times for 490 offenses, but 490 times for one great and terrible injustice — every time the sting of it is felt again in your heart.

As He does in every place the issue arises, Jesus puts to death any hope of a righteous grudge. If, as Jesus reminds Peter in the parable immediately following this admonition, God has forgiven us so much, how can we refuse to forgive those who insult or injure us?” 

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

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Ps. 118:24

“This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (v. 24). When you are having one of those difficult days–a day when the storm is blowing and the battle is raging, when the burdens are heavy, when your heart is broken and your tears are flowing, when it feels like everybody is turned against you, including your Heavenly Father–that’s the time to heed this verse by faith.

The psalmist was going through battles and difficulties, yet he was able to say, “If God put this day together, I’m going to rejoice and be glad in it. Even though I may not see the blessing now, eventually by faith I’ll be able to say, ‘It all worked together for good.’ So I’ll say it now.”

Jews sing this psalm at Passover. Jesus also sang this song before He was crucified. Can you imagine saying on your way to Calvary, “This is the day which the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it”? That’s another way of saying, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” If Jesus sang this song, we should sing it also.

Perhaps your day is full of overwhelming burdens or sorrows. Jesus also suffered days like that. Accept the day God has given you and acknowledge that He is in charge. Anticipate what God is going to do for you today; rejoice and be glad in it. You may not understand His purposes now, but one day you will. – Warren Wiersbe

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