MORNING MANNA             6-6-23

DESIRES DELAYED

“But He answered her not a word.” Matthew 15:23 

Delays are not denials. Jesus delayed to answer, but He did not deny her request. He hath said, “Ask, and it shall be given you. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” Heaven and earth may pass away, but His word must stand forever. He delays the answer to try our faith, patience and perseverance; but when He sends the blessing He proves His faithfulness, pity and love. Be not discouraged though your prayers remain unanswered for a time; it will not always be so. This poor woman had to wait, though her case was very trying, and her request very urgent; but at last Jesus commended her faith publicly, and dismissed her, with, “Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Prayer will prevail, if it is the prayer of faith. Pray on, then, and do not faint. Say, as Jacob on the plains of Peniel, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” Plead with Him; be importunate; wait His time; be willing to receive in His own way; be concerned that He should be glorified in giving to you, or doing for you; and you cannot fail. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear Him.

Wait for His seasonable aid,
And, though it tarry, wait;
The promise may be long delay’d,
But cannot come too late.  –James Smith, 1840

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

MORNING MANNA                 6-5-23

GOD’S ETERNAL WORD

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away“– Matthew 24:35

“Nothing lasts forever.” We have become used to the reality of this cliché that we have many times, even as Christians, unconsciously applied this earthly maxim to eternal things.

But Jesus would have us remember that, yes, heaven and earth shall pass away; nothing in this world lasts forever. Cars and carpet, bodies and bank accounts, hobbies and holidays — all eventually break up or break down.

Even nations and world powers rise and fall over time. Did you there is not a single world government still in power today that existed when the United States was formed? As young as this country is, it is already the oldest living government on the planet!

Heaven and earth shall pass away, Jesus says, but my words shall notpass away. God’s words and God’s works will still stand when the earth is on fire.

Now, you may give theological assent to the point Jesus is making, but does the reality Jesus is highlighting infuse your decision-making with an eternal perspective and priority? In other words, do you live as if everything in this world is momentary and God’s promises are everlasting?

If your joy, fulfillment, or comfort is found in your youth…what about when you get old? If it comes from your wealth…what happens when you become poor or too sick to enjoy it? If your happiness is derived from the affection or embrace of others…what happens when they leave or pass away?

Nothing lasts forever, except everything that I do and say, Jesus reminds us. May this reality be reflected this day in everything we do and say.–Baptist Bible Hour

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA                   6-3-23

”IN THE BELOVED ACCEPTED AM I”

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”- Eph.1:6

The tune was written by Wendell Loveless (1892-1987).

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,Tx.

MORNING MANNA                  6-2-23

DO IT
“ But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ”James 1:22
Although I would disagree with much that he believed, I am in complete agreement with what poet/professor Chad Walsh wrote when he said,” Millions of Christians live in a sentimental haze of vague piety with soft organ music trembling in the light of stained glass windows. Their religion is a pleasant thing, demanding little more than lip service to a few harmless platitudes; it is much safer from Satan’s point of view to vaccinate a person with a mild case of Christianity so as to protect him from the real disease.”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)

Faith is implicit trust in the Word of God. It is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.— Faith is no leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence, and finds that evidence in the Word of God.

Some people have the misconception that if you just believe a thing strongly enough it will come to pass. But that is credulity, not faith. Faith must have some revelation of God to lean on, some promise of God to cling to. If God promises something, then it is as sure as if it had already happened. If He foretells the future, then it is certain to be fulfilled. In other words, faith brings the future within the present and makes the invisible seen.

There is no risk in believing God. God cannot lie, He would not deceive, and He cannot be deceived. To believe God is the most rational, sane, logical thing a person can do. What is more reasonable than that the creature should believe the Creator?

Faith is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible.—

Faith, mighty faith the promise sees
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries, “It shall be done.”

Admittedly there are difficulties and problems in the life of faith. God tests our faith in the crucible of trial and affliction to see if it is genuine (1 Pet. 1:7). We often have to wait long years to see the fulfilment of His promises, and sometimes we have to wait till we reach the other side. But “difficulties are food for faith to feed on” (George Muller).

“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6). When we refuse to believe Him, we are saying that He is a liar (1 John 5:10), and how can God be pleased by people who call Him a liar?(William MacDonald)