MORNING MANNA            8-18-21

THE RICHEST MAN

“If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”- Luke 16:11

Unrighteous mammon here refers to earthly riches or material treasures. No illusion is more prevalent than that the man who has a lot of material possessions is rich. We speak of houses and land as real estate because we think they are real wealth. We speak of stocks and bonds as securities because we think they provide security.

But in Luke 16:11 the Lord distinguishes between the unrighteous mammon and true riches. The things men think are wealth aren’t wealth at all.

John was a godly Christian who served as caretaker for a wealthy aristocrat’s estate. One night John had a vivid dream in which he was told that the richest man in the valley would die before midnight the following evening. When John met his employer the next morning, he shared the dream with him. At first the millionaire pretended to be completely unconcerned. He never felt better. And he didn’t believe in dreams anyway.

But as soon as John left, he called his chauffeur to drive him to the doctor’s office. He told the doctor he wanted a complete physical checkup. As expected, the tests revealed that he was in splendid condition. And yet he was still worried about John’s dream, so as he was leaving the doctor’s office, he said, “By the way, Doctor, could you come to my house for supper tonight and for a visit afterwards.” The doctor agreed to come.

The supper went on routinely and they talked over a wide range of subjects. Several times the doctor made a start to leave, but each time the host prevailed upon him to stay a little longer.

Finally when the clock struck midnight, the godless rich man, greatly relieved, said goodnight to the doctor.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. When the gentleman opened the door, the adult daughter of old John stood there and said, “Please, sir, my mother wanted to let you know that my father had a heart attack and died a little while ago.”

The richest man in the valley had died that night. – William MacDonald

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

MORNING MANNA          8-16-21

FOLLOWING JESUS

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” – Luke 6:46

If every person who talks about following Jesus and claims to be following Jesus were actually doing so, our world would be a very different place. Instead, a vast number of people pick and choose from a few isolated things that Jesus said or take their own interpretation of what Jesus said and do that. God’s pattern is different. He commands obedience in all things. In His last conversation with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).

It is said that on one occasion, a French army officer asked George Washington’s mother what she had done to rear her son into such a fine man. Mrs. Washington replied, “I taught him to obey.” There are many different aspects and duties of the Christian life, but all of them boil down to obedience. Only when we do what God says can we legitimately claim to be following Him. All of our declarations of love and submission can never substitute for the actual obedience Christ commands.

In Roman times, a ruler had absolute authority over his subjects and their lives. At a whim he could order people to be moved from one place to another. He even had the power of life and death, by executing anyone who displeased him. While God is not a capricious tyrant, He does have supreme authority. It is a contradiction to claim that He is Lord while at the same time disobeying what He says for us to do. If He is Lord (and He is) then He must be obeyed. We do not get to decide how we should live and what we should do because our lives do not belong to us.There is nothing that can take the place of our submissive obedience to the Lord’s commands. (Copied)

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

MORNING MANNA         8-15-21

REASON TO REJOICE
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”- 1 Pet. 1:8

MORNING MANNA          8-14-21

MARY’S MESSAGE IN MUSIC

“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. – Luke 1:49-55

Taylor, as Mary, was mindful that as the future looms before us we need to look back at what God has done. We should be so wise. If we are to face the difficulties that lay ahead we need to remember that God is faithful. As Taylor said, “Upon past Ebenezers we built our Jehovah – Jireh”. May God help us do the same. –

 HDS

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

MORNING MANNA            8-13-21

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”- Matt. 6:33

“In these difficult days in which we live many are weakened by worry. They are overwhelmed by uncertainties and paralyzed by fear. That’s why our text is so very important – it is a precious promise from the One who cannot lie that our needs will be provided. Here is an example from Paul Chappell:

Evangelist Gipsy Smith lost his mother when he was still very young. He recounted going to his father and asking what they would do about Christmas. His father had once made money by playing his violin in bars, but since he had become a Christian, he refused to do that. Instead he told Gipsy, “I do not know what we shall have for Christmas, but we will sing.” He sang:

In some way or other the Lord will provide:
It may not be my way,
It may not be thy way;
And yet, in His own way,
The Lord will provide.

While they were singing, a knock came at the door. A pastor from Cambridge told them to go to a certain shop in town where food had been purchased and was waiting for them to pick it up. Gipsy Smith said there was so much that they had to use a wheelbarrow to carry it all. He said, “I never learned who purchased those things, but God had provided our Christmas dinner.” 

God’s ability to meet our needs does not depend on our resources. Whether we have much or little, or even nothing at all, He is more than able to provide. He hears when His children call out to Him, and even before we are aware of the need, He already knows the solution. Our responsibility is simply to come to Him in faith and trust that He will provide.We don’t need to know all the answers; we simply need to trust the One who does.”

I’m glad to know that when I look up to God for help in a time of need He is looking down at me with total awareness of my situation. But I am even happier to know that He is with me and able to deliver me.-HDS

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