This is a question that relates to many varied experiencesthat men go through. There are miseries that seen too heavy to bear and mysteries that are far to hard for us to solve. Numerous things in life seem unfair and unprofitable, and we wonder why and how a loving God would force them on us.

This is a question that should be easy to answer. Since God is righteous, perfect in every way, He cannot but do that which is right. We might not understand it, but we can rest assured that God will never do wrong.

This is a question that implies great truth about God. He is a judge, the Judge,” the Judge of all the earth”! He is not some local deity conjured up in the mind of puny man, nor one of the many gods of this wicked world. He is “the Judge of all the earth”—the One to whom we all are accountable!

This is a question we should remember. Things will happen that will rock your world, cloud your mind, break your heart, and depress your spirit—things you cannot comprehend, change or control. Things happen that prompt us to ask “Why?”, “Why this?”, “Why me?”, “Why now?”. We all experience things that cause pressure to mount–sometimes to the point that we even question God. It’s then that we are in desperate need of remembering who He is—“the Judge of all the earth”. So, who are we to question Him? He has all authority–shall we challenge Him? He has infinite wisdom–should we question Him? He is perfectly holy–dare we accuse Him of being wrong or unfair? He rules “all the earth”–should He not rule over us? He is “the Judge of all the earth”–shall we judge Him?

We have misjudged Him many times before, shall we do it again? Will we never learn? Do not be led astray by your feelings. Simply trust God to do as He has promised. He will never fail you. As someone said,”Wait, till the last chapter is written. God hasn’t made His first mistake. When we are able to see things from a clearer perspective, we will realize that the Judge of all the earth has done right”.–HDS, 4-12-13

John Oxenham wrote:
“God writes in characters too grand
For our short sight to understand;
We catch but broken strokes, and try
To fathom all the mystery
Of withered hopes, of death, of life,
The endless war, the useless strife,–
But there, with larger, clearer sight,
We shall see this–His way was right.”

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

Dark the stain that soiled man’s nature,
Long the distance that he fell.
Far re-moved from hope and heav-en,
Into deep despair and hell.
But there was a fountain opened,
And the blood of God’s own Son,
Purifies the soul and reaches
Deeper than the stain has gone!

Chorus

Praise the Lord for full salvation,
God still reigns upon His throne.
And I know the blood still reaches
Deep-er than the stain has gone.

Conscious of the deep pollution,
Sinners wander in the night,
Tho’ they hear the Shepherd calling,
They still fear to face the light.
This the blessed consolation,
That can melt the heart of stone,
That sweet Balm of Gilead reaches
Deep-er than the stain has gone!

All unworthy we who’ve wandered,
And our eyes are wet with tears;
As we think of love that sought us
Through the weary wasted years.
Yet we walk the holy highway,
Walking by God’s grace alone
Knowing Calv’ry’s fountain reaches
Deeper than the stain has gone!

When with holy choirs we’re standing
In the presence of the King,
And our souls are lost in wonder,
While the white robed choirs sing;
Then we’ll praise the name of Jesus,
With the millions round the throne;
Praise Him for the pow’r that reaches,
Deeper than the stain has gone!

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, TX

MORNING MANNA                  4-2-25
CLOSER THAN EVER
“…when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.-“ -1 John 3:2-3

Probably no generation since Christ ascended into heaven has had so many reasons to believe that His return is near and yet so little confidence that He will. Jesus taught us to pray,”Thy kingdom come”, but when is the last time, or was there ever a time, that you prayed for this?

Jesus promised He would come. Why wouldn’t we expect it? The apostles proclaimed Christ would come, why do we doubt it? Events of the tribulation period, that point to the nearness of His return, are vividly described in the Bible— why do we fail to see the connection? It’s as though the day is dawning and we think it is bed time–we’re mixed up and we’re messed up. How can we be so blind? How can we not long for and pray for the return of our precious Savior? That is our blessed hope!

We don’t hear much preaching about the return of Christ anymore, but that doesn’t change the reality of it. His coming is closer today than it has ever been before. And living in the light of this fact makes a difference in our lives. Believing His return is imminent changes our behavior, creates energy for serving, and comforts our hearts. His coming means our going. Just think about what we’re going to and what we’re going from! That ought to make you shout! It will be glorious.- HDS, 12-27-12

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

MORNING MANNA                    4-1-25
COMPLETE IN CHRIST

“And ye are complete in him—-” Col. 2:10

Contrary to what many people think, some people are not more fit for heaven than others. There are different degrees of knowledge, maturity, devotion, and morality, but there is no such thing as some being more deserving of heaven than others.

The truth is that none of us, in and of ourselves, are fit for heaven. We all have sinned and are deserving of hell. And there is nothing we can do to change our wretched condition. We can’t make ourselves fit for heaven— so religion is useless. But there is hope! In Christ we are made fit for heaven, because he was made sin “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). In Him we “are complete”.

The word “complete” means “filled” or “full”. It implies that there is nothing left to be done–as though we could contribute anything. While we have certain duties because we are Christians, there is nothing we can do to become a Christian. It depends entirely on what Christ does for us, not what we try to do for Him. Without Christ nothing is sufficient. With Christ nothing is lacking. When He cried “it is finished” He left no work yet to do. When He arose from the grave He left no enemy undefeated. When He sat down at the Father’s right hand it was because redemption’s work was done. The moment He saved you He imputed His righteousness and imparted eternal life full and free. He made you complete!

While every believer is different, no believer is more fit for heaven than another. All believers have only one thing in which they can boast and that is “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”(Gal. 6:14). There will be different rewards in heaven, but only one reason for us being there, and that is Christ in Whom we are “complete”. Dear friend, there is no middle ground. You are either complete in Christ or altogether lacking. You either have everything God requires or nothing to offer Him. Without Christ you are incomplete, empty, and unsatisfied. In Christ, and Christ alone, you are complete!   –HDS, 9/13/14

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

MORNING MANNA                    3-31-25
THE SAD AND GLAD NEWS

We often hear people say, “No two people are alike”, and in a sense that is true. But, it also can be said that, by nature all people are alike. We all descended from Adam and have the same sinful nature. Of all men, “there is no difference”(Rom. 3:22), “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Whether you trace  your ancestry back to faithful Abraham or Nimrod the rebel, there is no difference. We are all sinful and unfit for the kingdom of God. Your family tree might be that of royalty or rogues, you are a rebel against the King of kings until you claim Christ as your Lord and Savior. Whether you are a bum or a banker, without Christ you are spiritually bankrupt. Black or white, bond or free, rich or poor, learned or illiterate we’re all in the same boat by nature, and it’s sinking. That’s the bad news!

The good news is that, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”(John 3:16). It is good news that, “Jesus. . . by the grace of God should taste death for every man”(Heb. 2:9); “. . .”he died for all”. . (2 Cor. 5:15), that we who are unrighteous “might be made the righteousness of God in him.”(2 Cor. 5:21), That is good news indeed— it is glorious! We have hope —but only in Him!

Jesus made salvation available for everyone, so anyone could be saved. Now “. . whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”(Rom. 10:13). God has provided everything everyone needs for anyone to be saved. All we have to do is “believe” to receive. It is easy for us because it was hard for Him. We can be saved because He was sacrificed. He died that we might live.

The sad news is there is none righteous, no not one. The glad news is, there is One righteous, yes just one. He who is righteous died for the unrighteous. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”(2 Cor. 5:21). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. . “Acts17:31.- HDS, 4-4-14