Would you believe me if I said “I know your future”? That would seem to contradict what yesterday’s article said about “An Unknown Future”. But both statements are true. In His great wisdom and love, God made it so that we can’t know what will happen tomorrow. Thanks God for that! But that doesn’t mean we can’t know anything about the future. Although there are no prophets today and the events of tomorrow are hidden from our view, there are some things we can know the future. And what we know can help us to deal with what we don’t know. So here’s what I know about the future – yours and mine.
— We will reap what we sow. For every effect there is a cause. Choices have consequences. God established the universal immutable law of sowing and reaping. That includes good as well as bad. So in a very real sense we each determine much of what happens to us. If we are wise we will sow seeds of righteousness.

— God controls everything all the time. He either appoints or allows everything that happens. In other words, providence shall prevail. So as you look to the days ahead, regardless of how things appear, you can rest assured that God is in control.

— God never changes. Rest assured there will be many things that will change in your life during this upcoming year. The one exception is God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

— Our purpose never changes. Regardless of our circumstances, our chief purpose in life is to glorify God.

— We all fail at times. Fortunately failure isn’t final. With God recovery is possible. We might fall down or get knocked down, but “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” – Psa. 37:24

— Others will be watching and affected by what they see. We don’t have the right to not live right. As Christians we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

— People will disappoint us, and we will disappoint them. Since we are all imperfect we know this is to be expected. So we must be prepared to deal with our difference and live peaceable with one another.

— For unbelievers, the worst is yet to come. Prospering greatly in life some assume all is well and that they have no need of God. But, the fact is, the very worst thing imaginable awaits them. No one sins successfully. There is a pay day someday! And unbelievers will suffer eternal punishment.

— For believers, the best is yet to come. Sometimes the best people suffer the worst problems. The good news is that for God’s children the best is yet to come. God will dry every tear, remove every pain, explain every mystery, answer every question, and comfort every troubled soul. We will enter into the presence of the Lord and the fulness of our inheritance as joint heirs with Jesus Christ!

MORNING MANNA         12/27/19

JOSEPH’S JOB

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

Here we see a great subject – “the Son of man”. We often hear people speak of Christ as “the Son of God”, as well we should, but seldom do we hear Him called “the Son of man“. It’s as though they think it is a title unbecoming of the Lord. However, since this is the title He chose for Himself, and the fact that it is used about 78 times in the Gospels, it is perfectly suitable. But it’s more than just suitable, it is essential to understanding Christ. It is a reference to His humanity. It pictures Him as our near kinsman, our Redeemer. As someone said, “The Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God”!

Here we see a glorious statement – “is come”. Thank God He did! From the fall of man one prophet after another had proclaimed the promise that the Messiah would come. But one generation after another heard the message and went to the grave without seeing His arrival. But then “when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son” ( Gal. 4:4-5). Not until then could it finally be said, “the Son of man is come“. Those are words God’s people had longed to hear. These are words that brought hope to the hopeless, confirmed the message of John the Baptist, frightened kings, and infuriated the devil. They are words that describe Christmas. His birth was according to the promise, by means of a virgin, at the appointed time, in the designated place, celebrated by angels, attended by shepherds, and the first step in our Lord’s journey to Calvary.

Here we see a gracious service – “to seek and to save that which was lost”. From beginning to the end, salvation is of the Lord and by grace. Jesus didn’t come to behold the seven wonders of the world, reform governments, start welfare programs, or heal man’s diseases. He came to meet man’s greatest need – “to seek and to save that which was lost”. Since all have sinned this makes His coming of great importance to everyone. As sinners we are spiritually dead, separated from God, and condemned already. Yet the “Son of man” came to save us. That is a love story without equal – the greatest story ever told. – HDS

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

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9