MORNING MANNA                4-28-23

WE’LL WORK TILL JESUS COMES

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”– Luke 12:35–37

Every Baptist has sung the old song “We’ll work til Jesus comes”, but some are slow starters and some have sit down on the job.

President John Kennedy was fond of historical anecdotes that he used to illustrate his speeches. One of his favorites dated back to the American Revolution. In 1780, with the fate of the country still hanging in the balance as the war with England continued, the Connecticut House of Representatives meeting was in session. Suddenly the sky darkened ominously, even though it was the middle of the day. Some feared it was a sign of coming judgment and called for the body to be adjourned. But the Speaker of the House, Colonel Davenport, rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”

The fact that Jesus is coming back is one of the most powerful motivations that we have to live godly and serve God faithfully. John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2–3). The fact that Jesus hasn’t returned doesn’t mean He won’t. And this could be the very day. “Even so come Lord Jesus”! – HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             4-27-23

MOTIVATION FOR MINISTRY

MORNING MANNA             4-26-23

THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST“I will instruct thee and teach thee—“. Psalm 32:8 

Here is a precious promise! The all-knowing God will teach us–and we are in desperate need of the lessons. James Smith said,”At best we know but little–and we are slow to learn. But the Lord has promised to instruct us. The Lord’s teaching always produces humility, self-loathing, confidence in God, zeal for His glory, and heart devotion to Christ! The Lord’s teaching always brings us to the feet of Jesus, and delivers us from this present evil world. Under Divine instruction we learn the true nature of sin, the vanity of the world, the emptiness of creatures, and the fullness and preciousness of Christ!” 

Seeing that God is willing to instruct us, should we not be eager to learn? Considering that our problems are so large and our abilities are so small, should we not be found early and often sitting at the feet of Jesus, with our Bible open, our body rested, and our mind clear, soaking up the rich treasures of His Word? Since the great God who designed, created, and controls this vast universe bids us to come, should we not be found continually at the throne of grace praying, as the Psalmist, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”(Psalm 25:4-5). 

In the school of Christ, Jesus is both the teacher and the theme. It is for that reason He said,”Come unto me–and learn of me-“(Matthew 11:28-29). Have you? Is He your teacher? Have you enrolled in the class of Christ, by trusting Him as Lord and Savior? If so, sit at His feet, soak up His words, surrender to His demands, show forth His praise. If you know Him–love Him, learn of Him from Him, leave all to follow Him, live for Him, lean upon Him for support, and look to Him always. Make this your daily prayer–“Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path–“(Psalm 27:11). – HDS  

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

MORNING MANNA             4-25-23

TRUSTING GOD’S GUIDANCE

“For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”- Deuteronomy 32:9-12

The hymn book can be a great benefit to those who yearn for inspiration and instruction. It gives us much to ponder, especially when we know the history behind the hymn. Below, Paul Chappell shares the story associated with the song and I pray it will be a blessing to you.-HDS

 “Robert Lowry was saved as a teenager and not long after decided to train for the ministry. A gifted preacher, Lowry also wrote a number of hymns. Based on his work, Lowry was asked by the Biglow and Main Company, one of the largest hymnal publishers in the country, to become their hymnal editor. Some time later he received a poem in the mail from Fanny Crosby for the first time. Taken by the words, Lowry composed a tune to go with it, and it was first published in 1875.”

All the way my Savior leads me–
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

God always knows where we are going and how He will arrange to lead us if we trust Him for guidance. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He never has to adjust a plan to deal with something unexpected that came up. Even when we cannot see how He is guiding us, we can rest confidently in His promise that He will. It is easy to trust God when things are going the way we think they should, but He is just as faithful when we are confused and find things hard. That is the essence of faith. Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”

Even if we cannot see how or why God is working, we can trust Him to do what is best.

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx.

Oh! Think of the Savior descending from the starry heights of glory, and coming down into the Virgin’s womb; and then descending from that lowly manger of Bethlehem, even to the cross and to the grave–for you! Yes, for your sake He takes upon Himself the form of a servant and becomes obedient unto death, even the death of the bloody tree!

Many of the ancient saints were accustomed to spending hours in meditating upon the sacred wounds of Jesus upon Calvary’s Cross; and many of the martyrs have been for days engaged in solemn meditation upon those wounded hands and feet, and that pierced side.

Oh! Sit down at the foot of the Cross, and study the wounds of Jesus! Of all the volumes that were ever written–this volume, printed in crimson upon the pure lily-like flesh of Christ, is the best to read!

If any of you doubt whether there is forgiveness with God, I ask you to stand on Calvary, in imagination, and to look into the wounds of Jesus. Gaze upon His nail-pierced hands and feet, His thorn-crowned brow, and look right into His heartwhere the soldier’s spear was thrust!

Pardon of sin is only found in the wounds of Jesus!
Your sins were atoned for upon the accursed Cross.

Abide close to the cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. We shall only hate sin, by living more where the groans of Calvary can meet our ears, and the sight of the Savior’s wounds can melt our hearts! Keep a deep sense of your indebtedness to God alive in your soul, and you will feel that you can never do enough for Him who has forgiven you so much!

There is no solid joy, no hallowed peace this side of Heaven–except by living under the shadow of the Cross, and nestling in the wounds of Jesus!- Charles Spurgeon

    When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.

    Forbid it Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.

    See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

    Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all!