MORNING MANNA                 1-24-25

A NEW CREATURE

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.“–2 Corinthians 5:17

British businessman Lindsay Clegg told a story about a London warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months, and vandals had badly damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and thrown trash all over the interior.

As Clegg showed the property to a prospective buyer, he repeated incessantly that he would have the structure repaired. “Don’t worry about the repairs,” the buyer told him. “When I buy this place, I’m tearing down the building and constructing something completely new. I don’t want the building; I want the site.”

When we come to Christ, we’re much like that lot with an old warehouse on it. Because of our sin, we’re in a dire spiritual condition. And often our temptation is to make all the right repairs before we give ourselves over to God by placing our faith in Christ.

But the truth is, God doesn’t want our repairs. He wants our site. He wants to take us just as we are and build something completely new. So don’t feel like you have to clean yourself up to come to God. Instead, trust in Jesus to make you new!

Ask God to fill your heart with the truth that in Christ, you’re made new! ( Senior Living) 9-29-15

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

MORNING MANNA                 1-23-25

NEVER ALONE

God is “a very present help in trouble.” But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation.

We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark–the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled….He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!

What though the path be all unknown?
What though the way be drear?
Its shades I traverse not alone
When steps of Thine are near.

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

MORNING MANNA                   1-22-25

THE SIN OF PLOWING

“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” – Proverbs 21:4

There’s a lot of debate about what’s right and what’s wrong. Of course if you are one of those who do not believe in absolute truth you will always be confused. There’s not much I can say to help a person like that. But for those of us who believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God right and wrong can easily be defined–or can it be? The answer is “Yes” and “No”.
 
We can determine what is right by discovering what is lawful according to God’s Word, and we need to spend more time doing that. Our society is in serious trouble simply because people have ignored God’s laws. The only hope for a bright future is a return to the precepts and principles of God’s Word.
 
But there’s another matter that is seldom given much thought. Not only must our action be lawful, our motive must be right. If the action is wrong no motive can make it right. Sincerity doesn’t sanctify sin. On the other hand, if our action is right and our motive is wrong it becomes sinful. Motive matters to God.
 
It is for this reason that an unsaved person cannot please God. People say of their kind unsaved neighbor,”He isn’t saved, but he has a good heart.” But that’s miles from the truth. The heart of their problem is the problem of their heart. Their action might be helpful to others, but their heart is unbelieving, proud, selfish, and void of love for God. That makes their “good” deed a bad thing. They plow the ground and plant the seed with the hope that the sunshine and rain will be provided so as to insure a good crop and put food on their table, yet they reject the very God that makes it happen.
 
Our text tells us that “the plowing of the wicked is sin”. That seems shocking to some folks–after all, plowing is not unlawful. To the contrary it is necessary and hard work is commendable. But our text categorizes it as sin, right along with things such as “an high look, and a proud heart”. Beyond this, the Bible also tells us that even his religious actions are sinful. Proverbs 15:8 says,”The sacrifices of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord-“.
 
All this puts the natural man in a bad situation. He can do nothing to satisfy the demands of a righteous God and he stands condemned before God. What an awful thought! Talk all you want about being saved by “good works”, but it sheer folly. You can’t even plow your field without sinning against God. Thankfully Christ has made it possible for us to be reconcilied to God, by faith in His shed blood. As a result everything we do, including the plowing of a field, that is done for God’s glory is rewarded. All of life takes on a new meaning. HDS, 2-15-10 

MORNING MANNA              1-21-25

A Fabulous Future 

We live in a day when we are constantly bombarded with bad news and negative issues. It wears on you! Many are so fearful and discouraged that although they live in the lap of luxury they don’t enjoy it. If that describes your disposition you need to do as Paul commands in 1 Thessalonians 4:18,”Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” To do that you must consider what he said in the previous verses regarding the return of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the rapture of the saints. That describes the belivers “blessed hope”(Titus 2:13) and it gives us reason to rejoice! But, notice that we are not to just seek comfort for ourselves, we are to “comfort one another”. It is through comforting others with these glorious truths that we find the most comfort for ourselves. The person who seeks to be a blessing is always blessed himself

. We need the attitude of D.L. Moody. A little girl had heard someone talking about the end of the world and she was greatly troubled. Seeing tears in her eyes, Mr. Moody asked what was wrong. When the little girl said, “The world is coming to an end”. The wise old preacher said,”Don’t worry honey, we can get along just fine without it”.

 Indeed we can ,if we know Christ as our Savior. Regardless of the wretched conditions on earth we have a fabulous future. One glorious day Christ will return and we shall be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air! We will be reunited with the saints that have gone before, relieved of our heavey burdens, and rewarded for the deeds we’ve done. It doesn’t get any better than that! As the old song says,”What a day that will be”. Cheer up weary pilgrim you’re not home yet. And, until we finally reach our homeland, we have the aid of the Holy Spirit to sustain us.Remember, “–weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(Psalms 30:5).–HDS 2/12/11

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

MORNING MANNA             1-20-25

“HIS BILLOWS

“Annie Johnson Flint is probably my favorite poet. Many years ago she wrote a wonderful poem entitled “His Billows” based on these words from Psalm 42:7 “—All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” Do yourself a favor–find it and read it.

 The point of the poem, as the title indicates, is that regardless of our difficulties they are “His billows”. In other words, God either causes or allows everything that happens to us. That’s right, I said, “everything”–no exceptions! He is always in control. He does so for a reason and, if we maintain the right attitude, He will use them for our good. 

Here’s the problem–we really don’t believe Romans 8:28 like we claim to do, at least when the problem is personal. We like to quote it to others when they are going through great difficulties, but we don’t seem to accept it when the problem is ours. When bad things happen that we can’t change or control we tend to get bent out of shape. 

If you’re struggling with your attitude regarding your afflictions, maybe these words from an unknown writer will help: Stand up in the place where the dear Lord has put you, and there do your best. God gives us trial tests. He puts life before us as an antagonist face to face. Out of the buffeting of a serious conflict we are expected to grow strong. The tree that grows where tempests toss its boughs and bend its trunk often almost to breaking, is often more firmly rooted than the tree which grows in the sequestered valley where no storm ever brings stress or strain. The same is true of life. The grandest character is grown in hardship.

Remember my dear friend–it is “character”, not comfort, that counts. For every trial there is a reason and a season (it won’t last forever), so let’s “grow” today!  — HDS

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