MORNING MANNA           5-29-24

AM I LIKE JESUS OR NOT?

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”John 13:4-5

Serving is not an easy lesson to learn. But it is a lesson which we must learn — if ever we would become like our Master. Jesus did not come to be served — but to serve. He served to the uttermost, just as He loved to the uttermost. Any service that needed to be done for another — He did as naturally and as simply as He breathed! He loved people, and was interested in them and was ready always to be helpful to them. It never mattered what the service was, whether it was the saving of a soul, the curing of a grievous sickness, or washing feet — He did the least service — as graciously and as divinely as the greatest!

The washing of feet was the lowliest service any man could do for another. It was the work of the lowliest slave. Yet Jesus without hesitation, did this service for His own disciples. Thus He taught them that nothing anyone may ever need to have done by another — is unfit for the holiest hands. We begin to be like Christ — only when we begin to love others enough to serve them, regardless of the lowliness of the particular service.

One day a stranger entered an artist’s studio in Milan. The artist was working on a painting of the head of Christ and appeared to take no notice of the stranger. At last he broke the silence, looked at the man and asked, “Sir, does it look like Jesus — or not?”

There is no surer test of the genuineness of Christian life — than in this matter of serving others. In serving others, we should inquire, “Am I like Jesus — or not?” We are too careful of our dignity. When we see the Son of God washing His disciples’ feet — we should be ashamed ever to ask whether anything another may need to have done — is too menial for us to do. A king may do the lowliest kindness to the poorest peasant in his realm — and his honor will only be enhanced by it.(J. R. Miller)

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” John 13:14, 15

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

MORNING MANNA           5-28-24

ALL NEW– NOTHING OLD

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new-“-  Revelation 21:5.

Do you ever get tired of things not being the person you ought to be? Sure you do – if you are a Christian. We all long for change. Every Christian grows weary of the sin, selfishness, and suffering to which we are exposed in this fallen world. Sometimes it seems that change for the better will never come—but we are wrong. Not only will there be gradual changes for the better (1 Cor. 5:17), there will come a time when we will be totally transformed. Our blessed Lord will make all things new and perfect. Charles Spurgeon said it well:

“Glory be to His name! All things need making new, for they are sadly battered and worn by sin. It is time that the old vesture was rolled up and laid aside, and that creation put on her Sunday suit. But no one else can make all things new except the LORD who made them at the first; for it needs as much power to make out of evil as to make out of nothing. Our LORD Jesus has undertaken the task, and He is fully competent for the performance of it. Already he has commenced His labor, and for centuries He has persevered in making new the hearts of men and the order of society. By and by He will make new the whole constitution of human government, and human nature shall be changed by His grace; and there shall come a day when the body shall be made new and raised like unto His glorious body. What a joy to belong to a kingdom in which everything is being made new by the power of its King! We are not dying out: we are hastening on to a more glorious life. Despite the opposition of the powers of evil, our glorious LORD Jesus is accomplishing His purpose and making us, and all things about us, “new” and as full of beauty as when they first came from the hand of the LORD.”

Fixing our focus on the future, having faith that it shall be as the Lord promised , gives us the encouragement to keep going when life is difficult. We rest assured that “ our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”(2 Cor.4:17).- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

As our nation observes Memorial Day, please take time to reflect on what others have provided for you, thank God for His blessings, express in some appropriate way your appreciation, and pray–especially for the families who have suffered the loss of a loved one in the pursuit of freedom.—HDS

MORNING MANNA           5-25-24

HOW HUMILITY HELPS

MORNING MANNA           5-24-24  
COMFORTERS

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”–2 Corinthians 1:3-4