MORNING MANNA            12-5-23

THE COST OF CHRISTMAS

“ For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”- 2 Cor. 8:9 

Have you noticed that at some time around Christmas we usually complain about the cost of Christmas? Although we might never utter a word most of us think about it. If you have to plead guilty to doing so, here’s something else you might want to think about: 

MORNING MANNA            12-3-23

LIKE JESUS

“ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ”- Phil.1:21

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner.

In their rush, with tickets and briefcases in hand, moving quickly through the airport terminal, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

All but one! He paused, took a deep breath, quickly assessed the situation — and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then, he returned to the terminal where the apples were still all over the terminal floor.

The man was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl running the stand, he discovered, was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, all the while helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the rushing crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one caring for her plight.

No one else, that is. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised. These he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?” She nodded through her tears. “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly,” he said.

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, “Are you Jesus?”

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered, stunned by the words. Then slowly, he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning in his soul: “Are you Jesus?”

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble,Tx

MORNING MANNA            12-1-23

GIVING GOD PLEASURE

“ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”- Heb. 11:6

”The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” – Psa. 147:11

God takes pleasure in our faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him”; but surely the alternative is true, that our faith is precious in His sight, though it be only as the touch of the hem of His garment.

God works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. The Apostle says that we ought to walk so as to please God. How can we walk thus? It is not within our power. But how blessed to know that if only we will work out what He works in, and abandon ourselves to Him, He will perfect us in every good work to do His will (Heb 13:21).

There are many ways in which we may please God. Generosity is a sacrifice well-pleasing and acceptable unto God; obedience is well-pleasing unto the Lord; a holy and humble walk with God, like Enoch’s, will elicit this testimony, that it has pleased God. Let us not disappoint Him, but “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.”

“O God, we pray that Thou wouldst make us what Thou wouldst have us become, that we may perfectly please Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name. Amen.”- F. B. Meyer

PRAY FOR ISRAEL- Gen.12:3
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA            11-30-23

SHOWING OFF

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”- Matthew 6:1

I was reading an article from Senior Living that said,”Years ago, Merv Griffin had a bodybuilder on his show. During the interview, Merv asked him, “Why do you develop those particular muscles?” The bodybuilder simply stepped forward and flexed his well-defined muscles as “oohs” and “aahs” emanated from the crowd.

Unsatisfied with the response, Merv asked again, “What I’m asking is… what do you use those muscles for?” The bodybuilder sat with a confused look on his face. He didn’t have any answer except that he built his muscles in order to display them to others.

Sadly, many churchgoers today are a lot like that. They faithfully attend every Sunday, will often read their Bibles during the week, and get involved in ministry for the main reason of displaying their ‘spiritual muscles’ to others in order to impress. Their spiritual life is little more than a display designed to get “oohs” and “aahs” from others.

But the truth is that spiritual growth does have a purpose. Church, Bible study, and ministry are meant to strengthen our ability to serve Christ. So instead of building your spiritual muscles for show, do it to prepare yourself to advance God’s agenda and make an even greater impact for His Kingdom!

Pray that God would help you build up your spiritual muscles not to be seen by others, but to serve Him more effectively.” We have far too much showmanship in the pews and the pulpits. God help us to get real by growing in the likeness of Christ, do all we do for the glory of God, and let our character speak for itself. Motive matters! – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA              11-29-23

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. 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!”.

 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