MORNING MANNA             5-18-24

The Dimensions Of God’s Love

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” — Eph 3:17-19

The dimensions of the Love of Christ! It is broad as humanity, “for God so loved the world”; the length God’s love had no date of origin, and shall have none of conclusion. God is Love, it continueth ever, indissoluble, unchangeable, a perpetual present tense. Its height—as the Flood out-topped the highest mountains, so that Love covers our highest sins. It is as high as the heaven above the earth. Its depth—Christ our Lord descended into the lowest before He rose to the highest. He has touched the bottomless pit of our sin and misery, sorrow and need. However low your fall, or lowly your lot, the everlasting arms of His love are always underneath.

The Apostle talks by hyperbole, when he prays that we may attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ. We cannot gauge Christ’s love, but we can enjoy it. Probably the only way to know the love of Christ is to begin to show it. The emotionalist, who is easily affected by appeals to the senses, does not know it; the theorist or rhapsodist does not know it, but the soul that endeavours to show the love of Christ, knows it. As Christ’s love through you broadens, lengthens, deepens, heightens, you will know the love of Christ, not intellectually, but experimentally (1Jo 4:11, 1Jo 4:12; 1Jo 4:20-21).

But you say, “there are people in my life whom I cannot love.” Granted, but you must distinguish between love and the emotion or feeling of love. You may not be able to feel love at the outset, but you can be willing to be the channel of Christ’s love. I cannot love, but Christ is in me, and He can. Is it too much to ask that all this should be realized in ourselves and in others? No, because God is already at work within us by His Holy Spirit, and He is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest requests or thoughts. Ask your furthest, think your highest, and the Divine Love is always infinitely in advance.

We thank Thee, O God, for the infinite love which Thou hast given us in Jesus Christ. We have no measure for its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths. Teach us with all saints to know more because we love more. Amen.–F. B. Meyer

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble,Tx

MORNING MANNA            5-17-24   
PEACE FOR PRISONERS

“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”- Acts 16:26 

Do you ever feel trapped? Don’t we all at some time or another? Maybe this is one of those days when you feel like a prisoner to your unpleasant circumstances. Perhaps you feel doomed to a life of despair, forced to live without help or hope. It’s in times like these that we need to be reminded of the greatness of God’s power. And, that’s just what we see in our text. Paul and Silas had been beaten and cast into prison, but God moved the earth to deliver them! If it fits with His purpose He will do the same for you.

 In 1904, J.R. Miller wrote:”There is no prison too strong for God to break open; there are no chains too heavy for Him to snap asunder, there are no walls too thick for Him to shatter. There are other kinds of prisons besides those built with stone–prisons of trial, of temptation, of trouble, of circumstances. If we are in any of these prisons, God is just as able to bring us out of them!”

I send this to encourage myself as much as anyone else. None of us are above falling into a pit of depression. Feeling trapped in unpleasant circumstances and not being able to control our situation we are drained of energy and left feeling like giving up. And will power isn’t enough to keep us going. So, knowing it takes a miracle from God to keep us from utter despair, I close with these words. 

Don’t give up hope. With God all things are possible and as long as you are on this earth God still has a plan for you. When things seem most hopeless, remember–if need be, God will move heaven and earth to meet your need. He’s done it before and He can do it again.

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

MORNING MANNA                  5-15-24

TREACHEROUS TEACHERS
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”-  2 Cor. 11:13-15

MORNING MANNA            5-14-24  
A GREAT PROMISE    

“ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor.15:58   

Every morning, or the day before, I give thought as to what I post on “MORNING MANNA”. And whether it is something I copy or something I write it’s my prayer that it will be a blessing or help to someone.

Realizing that everyone is different I know that it will not have the same effect on everyone, and perhaps on no one. No matter how hard I try I can’t please everyone, nor can you, but that’s no reason to get discouraged and quit. Just knowing that someone might be helped is reason enough to keep working at it.

I mention this because I’m sure that there are those who have been trying to do something good who get discouraged. They put forth their best effort but see little or no success. Then, concluding that it is a waste of time, they throw in the towel and give up.

To guard against that we must remember God’s promise – “your labor is not in vain”. Success is finding the will of God and doing it – not reaching some personal goal, getting applause, or gaining a following. Even Jesus could do no mighty works in His hometown. Thankfully He didn’t give up. Neither should we. Having fulfilled our responsibility we are to leave the results with God. To do that we must remember that God will, in some way, reward us for our effort. And that makes it worthwhile. When you know you are doing God’s will don’t allow anything to stop you. HDS   

 
David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, Tx

MORE BEYOND
In his book “Probing Heaven”, John Gilmore gives us this interesting bit of history–
“One time Spain controlled both sides of the narrowest part of the Strait of Gibraltar. At that narrowing of the two land masses (Africa and Europe), there was a huge marker called the “Pillar of Hercules,” and prior to Columbus’ voyage in 1492, it carried a three word Latin saying chiseled into stone: NE PLUS ULTRA, which, translated, said, “No More Beyond.” Coins, like stamps, can tell us about a country. They celebrate victories, praise founders, sloganize ethnic styles, and advertise scientific breakthroughs. “No More Beyond” was the standard belief of that time. No one would dare question the prevailing conviction that the western horizon contained nothing new. After Columbus’s discovery of a new world beyond Spain, recognition of the revised outlook was pressed into its coins. Coins were struck with a simple Latin slogan, two words: PLUS ULTRA: which meant “More Beyond.” Coins in circulation in Florida in 1796, still had that slogan!”

Now I want you to think about those words in a broarder and more blessed sense. It is a glorious thing to think about the person and work of Christ. It should always be on our mind. We should always be “Looking unto Jesus”. Many however fail to see the big picture. Their thoughts about the death of Christ are limited to the forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven. While that is wonderful, that’s not all!

F.B. Meyer wrote, “Christ died, not only to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, but to rob death of its terrors, and deprive it of its sting. In death our Lord Jesus destroyed both the Devil and his power–(Heb. 2:14-14; Lohn 12:31; John 16:11).” Then Meyer goes on to say, “Let us not be afraid of the mystery of death.. the loneliness of death.. what comes after death”. That, dear friend, should remind us of the need to expand our horizons. We need to see the benefits of reflecting on all that we have in Christ. In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was “Ne Plus Ultra,” which means “No More Beyond.” The word being torn away by the lion is “ne” or “no,” making it read “Plus Ultra.” Columbus had proven that there was indeed “more beyond.” That’s interesting, but better still is the fact that Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has ripped away all our doubts and assured us that there is more beyond.

Think about it! The forgiveness of sin is fabulous, but there is more beyond! Deliverance from bondage is delightful, but there is more beyond! Being accepted by God is amazing, but there is more beyond! Assurance that we will miss hell and make heaven is astonishing, but there is more beyond! Promised a resurrection provides peace, but there is more beyond! Get the picture? Being a child of God we have a glorious inheritance as joint heirs with Christ. We will spend eternity enjoying what we have by virtue of our position.Think much and often of who you are and what you have in Christ and you will be transformed–changed from glory to glory. So far we have but touched the hem of the garment–there is more beyond!

Looking unto Jesus gives us joy unspeakable and full of glory, and a peace that passeth all understanding. There is never a reason for any Christian to be bored or bitter. Search the scriptures and discover what you have in Christ. Remember, the best is yet to come! Only eternity will reveal the glories that await us. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.“–Col. 3:1-2. – HDS  
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346