MORNING MANNA            6-12-24  
A WORK TO DO

”For to me to live is Christ-“ Philippians 1:21 

Some poor souls grow so weary with the struggle of life that they yearn for it to end, and some take the next step. They are so troubled by their troubles that they decide life is not worth the living. How sad, and O how foolish! 

If you are alive it is for a God-given purpose. Regardless of how bitter the battle, or how rough the road, or how difficult the duty, you are alive because God has a work for you to do. It is not ours to decide if it is worth the work, or if the reward will be reason enough to continue–our duty, and eventually our delight, is to do our duty, regardless of the degree of difficulty. Don’t worry about whether or not you will be successful or appreciated, just do your job –leave the results with God. He commands us to be faithful, not fruitful or famous. Winning His smile of approval is all that matters.

 
Here’s something I found in my notes that might encourage you. I don’t know who wrote these words, but I know they have helped me and perhaps they will do the same for you: 

”Let us examine our capacities and gifts, and then put them to the best use we may. As our own view of life is of necessity partial, I do not find that we can do better than to put them absolutely in God’s hand, and look to Him for the direction of our life-energy. God can do great things with our lives, if we but give them to Him in sincerity. He can make them useful, uplifting, heroic. God never wastes anything. God never forgets anything. God never loses anything. As long as we live we have a work to do. We shall never be too old for it, nor too feeble. Illness, weakness, fatigue, sorrow,–none of these things can excuse us from this work of ours. That we are alive today is proof positive that God has something for us to do today.”

Although out infirmities might change the nature of our work there is nevertheless something we can do, and that’s all God expects. Doing what we can the best we can pleases God and that ought to be enough to please us. Don’t beat yourself up over not being able to do what you used to do. Rather than being depressed by it be delighted that there is yet another work you can do.- HDS

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

MORNING MANNA            6-11-24

A SAD SITUATION

 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”–2 Thessalonians 1:8

Some who are reading this will have received it from one of our readers who sent it to you out of concern for your soul. Others are reading it who are professing Christians and have heard it before, and might even attend church every week. Yet, deep down in their heart they know they have no assurance of heaven. Whatever the case, I hope you will give serious thought to this scripture and to what an unknown writer said about it.

 “Many people go through life and never obey the gospel. They have no use for the church. They do not support it, either with their money or presence. Yet when they die, they want their body taken to a church building that they did not help build; they want songs sung from books they never helped buy. They want a preacher that they never helped to support, to read from the Bible that they never respected enough to read, sweet words of comfort and consolation to their loved ones and preach their soul into heaven that they never prepared to live in. Isn’t it peculiar? Never let it be said of you. Obey the gospel of Christ before it is too late.” 

Truth is often hard, but ignoring it is much worse! I pray that you will consider the awful consequences of not receiving Christ as your Savior. Jesus said,” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬. Trust Him today! HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx

MORNING MANNA           6-10-24

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. As one 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!”(James Smith,1840).

 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           6-9-24 

 ONE THING   

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

What is it that matters most to us? The wise person knows what is important and makes priorities accordingly. Obviously, our families are important, as are our vocations, our health, our friendships, and our spiritual lives. But what is most important? What is it that we want more than anything else? In our Scripture, David declares that there is “one thing” that took precedence over all other things. That was his relationship to the Lord. He wanted to be right with the Lord and always be near His house. We may have interests and responsibilities in many things, but there is ONE THING that we are concerned about most. 

There are some who might take issue with David’s position. For instance, they might say that the family should come before anything, but they are wrong. The family is important, but the family should not come before God. If a person puts his family before God, his family becomes an idol. If a person puts God first, he will be more likely to be the family person he is designed to be. When a person’s relationship to the Lord is not what it should be, everything else will be affected. 

There ought to be something that is more valuable to us than our possessions, our relationships, our obligations, our leisure, or our comfort. The thing that matters most is our relationship to God. We want to know Him above all else. David said, “that will I seek after.” It is not difficult to see what our priorities are. Take an honest look at what we spend our time seeking. Are we seeking to know the Lord and grow in His grace? Are we seeking to spend time with Him in Bible reading and prayer? How easily are we distracted from the faithful assembly with the body of Christ?

David said, “that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” We do not worship the church, but we worship the God who placed a high priority on the assembly of the saints. We worship the Savior who promised to be present when His church assembles. David loved the Lord and lived to “behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.” 

What would you say is the “One thing have I desired”? What is it that we think about most often? – Thomas Smith

David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, Tx