The love of Christ is an infinite love: its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths—surpass our knowledge! The whole of His nature and perfections are thrown into His love, therefore He is said to BE love. He cannot love His people more than He does, nor will He love them less! Until we can comprehend infinity and measure eternity—we cannot know the love of Christ to perfection.

Love in us, rules us; just so, the infinite love of Jesus, rules Him. All that He has ever purposed, promised, or performed for His people—has flowed from this ocean of divine love! He is a globe of love, without beginning or end! He is a sea of love, without fault of defect! Only an infinite intellect can grasp Christ’s love; only eternity is sufficient to reveal it to our minds. Christ’s love will be always unfolding, but never be fully unfolded. It will be always displaying, but never be fully displayed. We may stand in the center and endeavor to follow its lines, but Christ’s love defies our powers, and drowns our thoughts in its immensity!

Christ’s love can never be diverted from its objects; it is immutably fixed upon them, and remains fixed forever! Had it been possible to have turned its current, it would have been done long ago; but it is still the river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God.

Having loved His own, He loves them unto the very end. Nothing present or future, above or below—can ever separate believers from the love of Jesus!

On this rock they rest, amidst all the storms of life!
In this fortress they hide, when dangers of every kind surround them!
At this fountain they live, when every creature-stream is dried up!

No love is unchangeable, but the love of Jesus!
His love is like the great mountains, and abides forever firm!

O believer, admire and adore! Jesus continues to love you amidst all your coldness, darkness, and proneness to wander; therefore He restores your soul and causes you to walk in the paths of righteousness. Satan may harass and accuse you, the world may frown upon and persecute you—but Jesus rests in His love, and rejoices over you with singing!

And amidst all the changes which we feel within and without, we ask with holy Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” And with him we reply, “No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of Hell—can separate us from God’s love! No power in the sky above or in the earth below. Indeed, nothing in all creation—will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord!”- James Smith, 1840

WORLD WEARY 
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live  in the flesh, thisis the fruit of my labour : yet what I shall choose I wot  not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart , and to be  with Christ;which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide  in the flesh is more needful for you.” –Phil. 1:21-24

Paul, and anyone else who knows what the Bible teaches, prefers heaven over earth. For the Christian “to die is gain” because heaven with Christ “is far better”. It’s no contest! However, those who care about people who are lost, and God’s plan, are willing to wait and work until God is through with them. But, being in the flesh often leads to weariness—work weariness and world weariness,etc.

I know what hard physical labor is–been there done that. I know what it is to be weary from work, and I can tell you that it is actually a good kind of weariness. You feel good about yourself– that you’re no afraid of hard work, you sleep better, and your over all health tends to be better. But there is another kind of weariness that isn’t so beneficial. I’m talking about being world weary– fed up with the ways of the world. It is a weariness that weighs you down and wears you out.

As a boy I never really understood why my mother was always singing “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through”–that seemed crazy to me, but I understand now. Christians are pilgrims and strangers in the world and we cannot feel at home. As Jesus said, we are in the world, but not of the world. And, considering our weakness, it is only natural that we grow weary.

As a boy I thought exploring the world and seeing all the sights would be great. But, the longer I live and the more I see, the more I realize that this world has nothing of eternal value, nothing that satisfies the longing of the soul. Could we just be left alone with family and friends it would be better, although not perfect. But we live in a sinful and hostile environment. Everyday we are confronted with things that grieve our hearts. We are grieved because we know it could and should be better. Our compassion causes us to care. If we had no concern there would be no grief,—but neither would there be any goodness. So when we see crime in the streets, corruption in the Whitehouse, craziness in Ferguson, collapsing morals, conflict around the world, and complacency in the churches we get weary—world weary. To say, “I’m fed up with the world” is an understatement! But to quit is not an option. Love for God compels us to press on.

Since weariness can be dangerous, it is crucial that we realize what the remedy is. Fortunately God has revealed that to us. It is described in Heb. 12:1-3, and summed up like this–“looking unto Jesus“. Our holiness, happiness, helpfulness, and hope depends on this. If we faint we fall, and if we fall we fail. It is only by keeping our focus on Christ that we can remain faithful. If we succeed it is against all odds and only because the Lord is our Helper. Without Him we could do nothing. Because of Him we are able to press on, encouraged by the fact that He will say,”Well done”. – HDS (12-29-14)

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

MORNING MANNA             8-31-23

A WORD TO THE WEAK

“And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.-“-Zechariah 10:12 

Spurgeon called this,”A solace for sick saints.” Indeed it is. This is a stirring promise of strength. It reminds us that God can remove the the dread and disability of a disease, as well as the illness itself. But weakness can come in many forms. It can refer to helplessness in any area of life, situations beyond our ability to control or change. But God can turn our weakness into strength. Notice, however, that this strength is found in the Lord, not in self. Apart from Him we would be as feeble and helpless as little children facing a dreadful beast. 

But, also notice that this power enables them to “walk up and down in his name—“. God doesn’t empower us so we can pursue our own selfish desires. We are strengthened by Him that we might live for Him. This precious promise is for those whose purpose is proper and motives are pure. If God has been so gracious as to raise you from your sick bed do not forget that He intends that you “walk up and down in his name.” Live for Him and you will always have something worth living for! Make that your purpose and God will provide the power.–HDS

David Stone     

Lakeway Baptist Church     

 Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA             8-30-23

GODLY INFLUENCE

“…..be thou an example of the believers..”.1 Timothy 4:12

Around the turn of the century in rural Tennessee an old man crippled with arthritis was very faithful in his assembling with the saints. Twice on Sunday and on Wednesday nights a little girl watched from her window as the old man with his cane painfully made his way down to the little church on the corner. One Sunday morning following a snow storm, the little girl ran to her window and looking out exclaimed, “Surely the old man will not go to church this morning.” But there he was, right on schedule, plodding very cautiously through the snow.

The little girl could not contain herself any longer. She just had to visit the little church to see what possibly could be there that would bring the old man out on such an inclement morning. The rest is history. The little girl was impressed by the services there that morning and a short time later became a Christian. After high school she enrolled in a Christian college and while there she met a fine young Christian boy whom she later married. To this union a son was born who was to become one of the finest gospel preachers. This brother during his ministry has literally led thousands to Christ.

The old man went to his reward never realizing just what an impact he had made for the cause of Christ. Because of his godly influence many will go into heaven with him. There can be no greater joy than to reach heaven and to her someone say, “I am here because you have shown me the way.”(copied)

You have probably heard it said, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read”. It’s true. A godly example is a powerful sermon.Whether you realize it or not, others are watching you and what they see is of great importance. It might be your child, grandchild, a kid in the church or the neighborhood. We all need to stop and think about where our example is leading them. We only get one chance to get it right and we are accountable to God for our actions. Hopefully we will lead them to Christ.- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA            8-29-23

THE ROSEBUD

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficent unto the day is the evil thereof.”–Matthew 6:34 

LAKEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

5801 FM 1960 E.

HUMBLE, TX. 77346