MORNING MANNA           2-5-22

GOD’S PLAN

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”- John 17:1–4

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God? Do you realize that our God is an all-knowing God? There was not one step on His journey to the Cross that caught Him by surprise. No difficulty entered His life that He was not anticipating. God knows everything. He is the author and finisher of our faith.

John 17 shows that Christ’s journey to the Cross was a very personal journey. It was planned between the Father and the Son. Verse 1 says, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” As you read that verse, realize that Christ had known about this day since before the world was made. He knew He would go through this. He knew what was to follow. Yet He went through it willingly. He subjected Himself to the pains and difficulties of human life because there was an eternal purpose in it all. 

Did you get that? Christ knew what difficulties were going to come into His own earthly life. He allowed them to come, not because it was easy or because it was the best thing to do, but because it was needed. There was a purpose in it all. Your salvation and mine was at the forefront of His mind.

Even so, God allows difficulties into your life not because He desires to make life difficult, but because He desires to bring about His purpose in your life—to teach you something, to draw you closer to Him, to make you a better Christian. Whatever the outcome, one of God’s foremost ways of developing you as a Christian is through trials.

Think back to the last trial you went through. Was it financial, a death in the family, a spiritual battle? Now that you are past that trial can you see how God worked through it? Or did you resist Him? When you go through a time of trial, realize that God has a purpose in it. Let Him work in your life and you will come out a stronger Christian.

Everyone experiences trials. Even the most spiritual Christians face tough times. But God has a plan for each trial. He desires to work through your trial, but the outcome of your trial is up to you. Will you fight God’s plan and resist Him? Or will you submit to His plan and purpose and become a better Christian? – Copied

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

MORNING MANNA           2-4-22

FULFILLED

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Col. 2:6

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Col. 2:10

Just as Solomon tried everything in his search for satisfaction and discovering it all to be vanity, millions today make the same mistake. A good example of this is described below as told by Senior Living.

Boris Becker, the famous tennis star, was at the very top of the tennis world. Yet despite all of his success, he was on the brink of suicide. He was quoted as saying,

“I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed. It’s the old song of movie stars and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy. I had no inner peace. I was a puppet on a string.”

You don’t have to read many biographies to find this very same kind of frustration and disappointment. The famous author Jack Higgins, for example, was asked what he would like to have known as a boy. His answer: “That when you get to the top, there’s nothing there.”

There are so many people today who believe that if they can simply do this or that, then their lives will be fulfilled. Yet they’re sorely disappointed when they reach their goal and discover that the view from the top isn’t as great as they thought it would be.

Maybe you thought your life at this stage would be better or more exciting than it has been. Many may have even grown cynical about life itself because they’ve decided it’s not what it should be. The solution to this problem is to look to Christ, not the world, to fulfill you. He is the one who gives you fullness and the only remedy to any emptiness you feel inside!

Ask God to change your perspective from looking to the world for fulfillment to finding your fullness in Christ alone.

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

MORNING MANNA             2-3-22

PERSPECTIVE

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance—The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage…I will bless the LORD …Psalm 16:5-7 

Perspective is powerful–it can make you feel like a prince or a pauper. Keeping things in their proper perspective is key to pleasure, your ability to enjoy life. Example– 

Picture yourself, with everything you have, living in the heart of Hollywood, surrounded by the mansions of the rich and famous. This view breeds discontent. It’s easy to be envious when you compare yourself to folks like that. You start to feel that you deserve more, bigger, and better. Life seems unfair.

 However, let’s change our perspective by picturing ourselves with everything we have, living in a poverty ridden place such as Haiti. Look at your neighbors. Notice the beggars roaming the streets. Consider the cardboard shacks in which they live. Pay close attention to what they wear and eat. Think about their means of transportation and the lack of public services. Want to trade places? Of course not!

 It is no wonder that a wise man like Paul would say,”–-we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen—things which are–eternal.”(2 Cor. 4:18). He knew that, instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should keep our focus on who we are and what we have in Christ.

 Discontent destroys our joy and impedes our progress in life. It makes winners feel like losers. As Ben Franklin said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

A wall plaque in my office says, “I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” Yep–it’s all a matter of perspective! For the Christian the future always looks bright if he looks far enough ahead, for the best is yet to come! – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA         2-2-22

FORGIVENESS

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots– Luke 23:34

Not only did Jesus purchase salvation for His people on the cross — He also gave us a perfect example of how to suffer graciously, to the glory of God. In the seven statements by Christ on the cross that are recorded for us in Scripture, we are given seven molds that should shape our responses to grief, tragedy, pain, and injustice.

The first words that we hear from our Savior’s mouth—as He suffers at the hands of ignorant, cruel, and deceitful men—are words of kindness and mercy. And so the first lesson we learn from our suffering Lord is this: forgive and pray for those who have wronged you.

This, of course, is never our first inclination. We wish to strike back, speak out, or count up all the wrongs that we have suffered. Yet here is the only truly innocent person that has ever lived and, while He is dying at the unjust and cruel hands of His enemies, He is speaking words of genuine pity and pardon.

It is evident that the New Testament Christians took this example to heart, for they emulate Him time and again. As Stephen is being stoned to death for preaching the gospel, his prayer is “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). As Paul faced the wicked Roman ruler Nero even some of his closest companions forsook him; yet, his response was “I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (2 Timothy 4:16).

Has someone harmed you? Have you been the victim of unfair treatment? How have you responded? Have you forgiven them? Have you prayed for them? If Jesus could forgive on the cross, certainly we can forgive because of the cross.–Baptist Bible Hour

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

MORNING MANNA           2-1-22

TESTED

As much as we dislike examining ourselves it is crucial that we do, lest we imagine all is well when it isn’t. Here is a test someone put together years ago. Take the test and see how you do:

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