MORNING MANNA.             4-24-21

COMFORTS

In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul– Psalm 94:19

What has been filling your thoughts and occupying your mind in recent days? Perhaps a loved one who is sick, an employer who is difficult, an injustice that you have observed, a longing that you have, or a sorrow that you feel? Or maybe all of the above.

In spite of my many tangled, confused, and anxious thoughts—the psalmist says to the Lord—your comforts fill my soul with joy. Although he describes the onslaught of anxious cares as a “multitude,” he insists that the comforts that God has provided far outweigh and exceedingly outnumber the stresses of life.

In fact the psalmist expresses that the encouragement that God has provided in His Word is so intensive and so uplifting that he has been led, not only to be consoled, but to be delighted. This speaks of a transcending comfort that is powerful and substantial enough to reverse the very trend of the mind toward worry or fear.

Have you experienced the soul-delighting comforts of God’s Word as of late? Has your tendency to worry or fret or grieve been overruled to such an extent that the inertia of your thoughts is now toward joy and peace and satisfaction?

When one looks at the love and faithfulness of the cross, at the wisdom and majesty of creation, at the sweetness and surety of God’s promises, the anxiousness of life is overwhelmed by the comforts for the soul.( Baptist Bible Hour)

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA            4-23-21

GOD HEARS YOU

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14

Senior Living tells this humorous but helpful tale to illustrate out text. A man was being pursued by a roaring, hungry lion. Feeling the beast’s hot breath on his neck and knowing his time was short, he prayed frantically as he ran, “O Lord, please make this lion a Christian.”

As he drew near, he heard the lion praying, “And bless, O Lord, this food for which I am exceedingly grateful.”

We often have a very specific vision of how we expect God to answer our prayers. But prayer isn’t about the fulfillment of our will – it’s about seeking and trusting in the fulfillment of God’s will.

You’re probably carrying concerns today that you need to bring before the Lord. Maybe it’s a personal illness or a sick family member. Perhaps you’re lonely, tired, or confused about what’s next in your life.

God promises in His Word that He hears your prayers. And you can trust that He will answer them in the absolute best way possible – according to His will and your greatest good!

Ask God to help you trust in His goodness, wisdom, and love as you bring your requests before Him. Pray that you’ll long to see His will accomplished in your life.     David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             4-22-21

THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus has always been God. He did not stop being God when He became a man. Yet in taking on human form, He intentionally laid aside the glory and honor that were rightfully His and accepted the duty of obedience. He fully obeyed the law of God, and He fully obeyed the will of His Father in Heaven. Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

Why did the One who had every right to be obeyed become obedient? Because it was necessary. Jesus had to be obedient in order to be qualified to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world, and in order to set an example for us to follow. When Jesus went to where John was baptizing and asked John to baptize Him, John protested that it should be the other way around—that Jesus should baptize him. “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matthew 3:15).

Every day we face the choice between obedience to God and yielding to the temptations of the world. Each time we stand firm and do what is right, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus. He was tempted just as we are, yet His obedience to the Father never wavered. To be followers of Jesus Christ, we must adopt His attitude of obedience to all God directs. ( Daily in the Word)

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

MORNING MANNA            4-21-21

GOD’S BUSINESS

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”- ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

Senior Living  illustrated our text with this story: Charles Dickens drives home a profound truth in a scene from his famous novel, A Christmas Carol.

Confronted one night by the ghost of his crooked business partner – and warned to mend his ways – the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge cries out in exasperation, “But you were always a good man of business in life, Jacob!” To which the miserable ghost replies…

“Business! Man-kind was my business… charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” 

The fact is our lives are meant for so much more than chasing our own ambitions. And a life dedicated to making yourself happy will only make you miserable. But a life lived for God and the good of those He puts in your path will bless your heart in a thousand different ways.

Your true business in this life is to be about God’s business. So make today about serving His kingdom – it’s what you were created in Christ Jesus to do!

Ask God to show you ways you can serve Him today. Pray that your eyes, ears, and heart will be open to the needs of those around you. 

David Stone

Lakeway  Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. He is mighty to comfort as well as to sanctify.

His name is “the Comforter.” His office is to console.

In the discharge of this office He puts forth His power, not only mediately and indirectly through the Word, but immediately and directly upon the soul, sustaining and strengthening it when fainting and troubled.

It is an unspeakable consolation to know that there is a hand, a divine and omnipotent hand,
laid upon our wounded spirit–not only upholding it, but drying up, as it were, the very springs of grief within.

In the day of oppressive sorrow, when bowed down to the dust, what is it that we feel so much our need of, as a hand that can come into close and direct contact with our souls to lift them up and strengthen them?

It is here that human consolation fails. Friends can say much to soothe us, but they cannot lay their finger upon the hidden seat of sorrow. They can put their arm around the fainting body, but not around the fainting spirit.

Here the heavenly aid comes in! The Spirit throws around us the everlasting arms, and we are invincibly upheld. We cannot sink, for He sustains, He comforts, He cheers. And who knows so well as He how to sustain, and comfort, and cheer?