Song of the Week

No Other Name is the song of the week now at www.baptist-city.com.

For people that don’t think that the bus ministry is worth it, this week’s song of the week is sung by former bus kids. They are now grown up and have children of their own, still attending First Baptist Church of Hammond. Thank God for the bus kids! Thank God for a preacher that many years ago said “I’ll take the bus kids!”


When Little is Much

When Little is Much

2 Kings 5:2

"And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife."

We don't know her name. We don't know her parents. We really don't know her age. We've assumed that she was a young girl because she waited on Naaman's wife, but we really don't know her name. What we do know is that she was of little stature, but she did a great deed.

Her master was Naaman, a captain in the Syrian army. She was taken captive and served this man's wife for several years. Though Naaman was a man of stature, his stature didn't keep him from carrying the deadly disease of leprosy. This disease was a death sentence in these days. Yet, though this little maid could have wished Naaman had died, instead she gave the suggestion that he go see Elisha for she knew that God could heal him. This maid of little stature did a great deed.

There are many who think they are too little to make any impact on people and society. Yet, when I study the Scriptures and history, I often find that it is not the great people who do great things, rather, it is those who are little and have nothing to offer that end up doing the great things. This little maid took what she had and used it, and God did something great with what she offered. Let me show you some things from this story when little can become much.

First, a little kindness can do much good. This little maid didn't have to do much to influence Naaman, she simply showed a little kindness. I have found that a little kindness will go a long way in influencing people. It doesn't take much to be kind to people. Every day you should be kind to those with whom you come in contact. Giving people a friendly smile when you see them can do much good. Being friendly to everyone, including the grumpy person, can do much good for someone who is having a rough day. Helping someone with something when they seem overwhelmed can do much good in helping you be able to lead them to Christ, or in helping them through their problems. It only takes a little kindness to do much good.

Second, a little caring can do much good. This little maid had no reason to care about Naaman because he was her master. She could have wished he died, and she could have kept silent and he would have died, but a little caring on her behalf helped him see healing in his life. Every day you should care for people. You never know what a visit when someone is sick will do. You never know what giving someone a little money to help them will do for their situation. Every Christian should be a caring person. You may not be able to care for them in a great way, but you can care for people to the extent that they will let you. A little caring will do much for the sake of Christ.

Christian, you may only have little that you can offer, but if you will take the little that you have and give it, then God can make much from it. Don't ever think that the little you have cannot make a difference. When everyone gives the little that they have, then much will be accomplished. You may not have much, but take whatever intelligence, effort, strength and knowledge you have to use it to the best of your ability. Decide today that you will start doing the best with the little that you have to offer and you will find that God will take it and do much good through it.

Hope in Dark Times

Hope in Dark Times

1 Kings 16:33

"And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."

In the verse above, Israel faced some very dark days. It must have seemed that there would be no hope. The Scriptures say that "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel...than all the kings of Israel that were before him." For those who wanted to do right, this must have seemed as if they had no hope. Ahab destroyed the worship of God. He made Baal the national god knowing that Jehovah God would be angry with him. Yet, Ahab didn't seem to care. Those who wanted to do right had certainly entered a dark era.

Do you sometimes feel that you are in dark days in your life? Do you look around and see society and wonder if there is any hope? Are there times when you go to work and see the wickedness from fellow employees? Do you hear the cursing and see the vileness protruding from the lives of those around you? Do you feel that you are all alone in your stance for truth? These feelings can certainly grip the heart of any Christian who desires to do right when you look at the affairs of this world.

Fortunately, God is still on the throne and is not going to sit idly by and let the heathen blaspheme His name. If you only read this chapter, you would think that there is no hope in dark days. Yet, the very next chapter starts out by saying, "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." (1 Kings 17:1) In the darkest of times, God provided a man of God. In the worst years of Israel's history to date, God gave them an Elijah. You see, there was hope in dark times. God came through when they thought it was all over.

Christian, let me encourage you that in the darkest of times, God always comes through. When it seems as if it can't get any darker, I promise you there is still a light that can shine, for God is still on His throne. You may feel that all hope is gone, but it is not gone. God will come through for you just like He did for Israel.

I don't know what you are facing today, but let me encourage you to not give up hope. You may see hopelessness all around, but you must keep doing right and believe that God will come through for you. You must realize that the light of God can shine brightest in the darkest of days. The darker things get the brighter God can shine through your life. His light can only shine if you allow Him to shine through you. Elijah lived during the same times as every other Israelite, but He yielded himself to God and allowed God to shine His light through His life. You can either let the dark days cause you to live a life of hopelessness, or you can yield yourself to God and let your life be the light that God shines through. If you will be the conduit for God's light to shine, then you can be that beacon of hope that will lift the spirit of others when they believe all hope is gone.


Establishing Yourself in Life

Establishing Yourself in Life

1 Kings 2:1

"Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,"

As a young adult it is always a difficult thing to get established in life. I can remember when I was a young man starting in evangelism, it was very difficult to get people to respect me in the ministry into which God placed me. There were those who thought I was too young to be in evangelism. There were others who understood I should be in evangelism, but they did not want to give me the respect of an evangelist. Getting established was a difficult thing, but it was not an impossible thing.

In the verse above, David prepared Solomon to be king of Israel. In the verses that follow, he showed Solomon how to establish himself in life as a young man taking the throne of Israel. There were some in the nation of Israel who did not think Solomon should become king. There were some of his own family members who were jealous that he was the one whom David chose to be king of Israel. Yet, we find in the verses that follow several things that David told Solomon to do that can help every young person to establish themselves in life.

First, secure confidence in what you're doing for the LORD. You will notice David said, "And keep the charge of the Lord by God,..." A young person must never let their age cause them to lack confidence. If God called you to do what you are doing, then you must realize you have God behind you. Paul reminded Timothy not to let people despise his youth. You cannot let your youth cause you to be insecure. Realize that God is the One Who called you into your line of work at a young age, so don't be hesitant about what you were made to do.

Second make sure your way of life is the right way of life. Your way of life are your habits in life. Be sure that you get rid of your bad habits. Bad habits will destroy your life quicker than anything else. As a young person getting started in life, it is imperative to establish good habits and routines which you follow every day.

Third, be sure to obey the Word of God. Obedience to God's Word will always give you the confidence you need in life. It will give you confidence because you are doing what you were supposed to do. Many young people have lost confidence in life because they were not doing what they knew they were supposed to be doing. Obeying God's commandments will certainly establish your life in the right way. God's commandments will establish your home life, your marriage, your business life, and your personal life.

Fourth, don't change God's methods to match your lifestyle. You will notice it says in the verse above, "...as it is written in the law of Moses,..." David reminded Solomon that the end does not justify the means. David wanted Solomon to understand that the methods will lead you to the desired results. You must be careful about falling for Satan's trap of thinking that good results is all that matters. You must establish at a young age that you do things God's way whether or not you get good results.

These four steps will help every young person establish themselves in life. These four steps will give them confidence to face whatever situation comes their way. No matter what your age, you must follow these four steps if you want God to establish your home, marriage, spiritual life, personal life and your business life.


A Blurred Focus

A Blurred Focus

2 Samuel 18:11

"And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle."

Have you ever looked at a picture that just seemed a bit out of focus? When you first see the picture, you begin to rub your eyes and wonder if there is something wrong with your eyes. But, as you try to focus in on the picture, you realize that the focus was blurred. A blurred focus causes you not to see things as clearly as you could or should.

Joab seemed to have a blurred focus. Joab is interesting to me because of his change in position. At one time he had someone approach David about bringing Absalom back. He felt that David should show appreciation to his son for what he did to Amnon. Then, a few chapters later we see Joab scolded a young man for not killing Absalom when he had the opportunity. We then go to the verse above when Joab wanted to destroy a whole city for one man. You may wonder what all of these have in common. In each story his reaction was based upon how a person or situation affected David. It was not based upon right or wrong, it was based upon whether David was adversely affected by these situations.

Joab's focus was blurred because he was focused upon a man an not upon God. In fact, you find that Joab became disloyal when Solomon became king. His loyalty was not to the truths which David defended. His loyalty was to David himself. If David did wrong, Joab followed. If people treated David right, then Joab treated them right. If people treated David in a wrong manner, then Joab wanted them out of the picture. His blurred focus upon man caused him not to see situations clearly. Instead of focusing upon David, Joab should have kept his focus on God, and that would have helped him to see clearly.

Christian, you must be careful about blurring your focus. What I mean by this is you cannot base your opinions and actions upon how a person you look up to is treated. You must base all your actions upon the truths of the Word of God. Men are not the issue of life. That does not mean we can't learn from men, for there are many men whom God used in a great way from whom we can learn much. But, we must not have our eyes so focused upon man that it blurs our ability to see situations clearly.

The Word of God is a Book that is very black and white. God never blurs the picture for us. When you are done reading a passage of Scripture, you know very clearly what God intended. That is why you must keep your focus on God. He never changes. Man has a way of blurring the picture because man does change. Yes, you should honor those who hold position, and you can learn from great Christians from the past, but don't ever let them cause you to take your focus off God. If you stay focused on God and His Word, then you will never find yourself looking at a blurred picture.