MORNING MANNA               1-12-23

EVERY TASK

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3:17

Life is filled with tasks and responsibilities. The attitude with which we approach those tasks determines to a great extent how we will carry them out. If we dread doing something, fearing that it will be hard, it is not surprising if it does turn out to be difficult. Instead we are called to begin every task with gratitude and a determination to do it the way Jesus would if He had our assignment. Whether the job is great or small, whether it is public or one that no one will ever know we did, it should get our very best. We are given the opportunity to represent the Lord Whose name we bear and to serve others just as He did.

Martin Luther wrote, “The prince should think: ‘Christ has served me and made everything to follow Him; therefore, I should also serve my neighbor, protect him and everything that belongs to him. That is why God has given me this office, and I have it that I might serve Him.’ The same is true for shoemaker, tailor, scribe, or reader. If he is a Christian tailor, he will say: ‘I make these clothes because God has bidden me do so, so that I can earn a living, so that I can help and serve my neighbor.’ When a Christian does not serve other[s], that is not Christian living.”

Everything we do reflects on God. People cannot see Him, so their opinions of Him are formed in large measure by what they see in His children. When we perform with diligence and serve others with humility, it does not glorify us, but Christ. This is God’s plan for us, and it applies to every part of our lives. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). In all that we do, we should be conscious of the precious name we bear, and bring honor and glory to Him. -Daily in the Word

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA                   1-11-23

TELL HIM TO COME IN

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”- Rev. 3:20

It is amazing that anyone would fail to answer the knock of the Lord Jesus. If it were a neighbor, the door would be opened promptly. If it were a salesman, someone would at least give him the courtesy of opening the door and saying, “We don’t need any!” Certainly if it were the President or the Governor, the family would compete for the privilege of welcoming him. Strange then that when the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer stands at the door, He is given the cold, silent treatment.

Man’s refusal is all the more irrational when we realize that the Lord Jesus does not come to rob but rather to give. He comes to give life more abundant.

A Christian radio preacher once got a late night call from a listener who wanted to stop by for a brief visit. The preacher tried every excuse to dissuade him from coming, but finally relented. As it turned out, the visitor came with a large gift of money to help with the radio expenses. After he left, the preacher said, “I’m so glad I let him in.”

Joe Blinco used to describe a scene where an animated conversation was going on in the living room of a home. Suddenly there was a knock at the front door. One of the family said, “There’s someone at the door.” Another jumped up, went to the door and opened it. Then someone in the living room asked, “Who is it?” Back from the door came the answer. Finally the head of the house shouted, “Tell him to come in.”

That is the Gospel in brief. Listen! There’s Someone at the door. Who is it? It’s none other than the Lord of life and glory, the One who died as a Substitute for us and rose again the third day—the One who is now enthroned in glory and coming soon to take His people home to be with Himself. Tell Him to come in! – William McDonald

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA                  1-10-23

PURE IN HEART

It is faith that purifies the heart; it brings home the atonement, and we enjoy pardon, peace, and reconciliation; it purges the conscience from dead works, and delivers us from all condemnation. It receives the truth of God, and Jesus through the truth; and we receive power to become the sons of God. We realize our relationship to God, read the gracious promises God has made, and anticipate the glorious kingdom He has prepared; hope rules in the heart, and every one that has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as Christ is pure. His conscience is made tender, his intentions are honest, and his heart is sound in God’s statutes. He groans under a body of sin and death, proclaims eternal war with the flesh, and loathes himself on account of filthiness in the spirit. He would give a world to be free from sin, for holiness is the element of his soul. He is blessed. He shall see God, and enjoy Him as his Father, Portion, and everlasting all. He shall be with his God; and be like Him, in purity, happiness, and glory. – James Smith, 1840

Jesus, the crowning grace impart;
Bless me With purity of heart,
That now beholding Thee,
I soon may view Thy open face,
On all thy glorious beauties gaze,
And God for ever see! 

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

MORNING MANNA               1-9-23

The Gospel Message

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” – Romans 8:1

Looking through my notes I had saved the following comments made by someone:

“Here we find two descriptions of the same person — the person that is in Christ Jesus. Those that are in Christ Jesus are described first by their position and then by their practice. They have no condemnation against them, Paul says, and they walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh.

No condemnation! Because God is completely holy, even our greatest deeds and thoughts are sin-soaked, filthy rags in His perfect sight. We stand guilty before a virtuous and fair judge; justice will be served (He will not compromise His own righteousness in order to have mercy on us) and so we must be condemned.

But those who are in Christ have their punishment transferred to Jesus, so that they are without condemnation. Those who believe on Jesus Christ have the assurance that He has taken their place—acted as their substitute—and so, in spite of their great shortcomings, they are without condemnation. Christ’s perfect sacrifice on their behalf has wiped their criminal record clean.

How do these pardoned sinners then live? They follow the promptings and leadership of the Spirit of God. As Paul explains a few verses later, “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (14). They no longer follow the dictates of their corrupted nature or of the sinful world; they march to the beat of a spiritual Drummer, following the footsteps of their perfect Savior.

What a joy, what a privilege it is to be in Christ! Our desire, like Paul’s, should therefore be to “be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

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

MORNING MANNA                1-8-23

Call to Worship 

“Kings of the earth, and all people…young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent” – Psalm 148:11-13

Religious skeptics have suggested that Christianity is only for the uneducated, for the poor, for the ignorant. But here everyone is called to worship the Lord. Kings and children, strong young women and feeble old men – everyone is to exalt the one true God.

Why? Because his name alone is excellent. Paul speaks of this surpassing glory of Christ, who has “a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). There are rulers, there are kings, there are dictators, there are czars — but then there is the unique, supremely reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He is always worthy of every person’s praise and service and trust. He is not a fad or a momentary phenomenon, like so many of the things to which we so easily and so quickly give our admiration and affection and attention.

Perhaps you have excused yourself from whole-hearted devotion to Jesus Christ. Young people tell themselves that they will serve Him “later” and elderly people decide they are too far gone to be of any use. Everyone in the middle is too busy to be bothered at all.

But let all people praise the name of the Lord, the psalmist exclaims. That means you, wherever you are and whatever your age or circumstances. –Copied

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