MORNING MANNA               12-24-24

THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST’S  BIRTH

Every aspect of the birth of Christ was a miracle. 

An American author and Christian once wrote the following poem concerning the festivities of Christmas: 

This Christian’s focus wasn’t on decorations or festivities, though he may have partaken in them. He wasn’t worried about presents or meals to prepare, though I’m sure he gave gifts to others. His focus was on praising God for the miraculous birth of Jesus.

 

Do you realize that every aspect of Christ’s birth was a miracle? First, God chose a godly virgin to bear His Son, and through immaculate conception she carried the Lord. Second, through God’s working, Joseph and Mary were required to travel to Bethlehem, the prophesied place of Jesus’ birth. Last, there was no room for the couple in any inn, so they retired to a barn, the place where Christ would be born. Everything from the humble stable, the manger, and the swaddling clothes pictured the future Jesus would have as the Saviour of the world. 

Christ’s birth was a miracle! Never forget the fact that God provided a miracle unlike any other that first Christmas night. The birth of the Lord was not merely a joyous entrance of the Saviour into this world (though it was that), but it was also the fulfillment of God’s promise to the world that He would provide a spotless Lamb to take away the sins of humanity. 

How much time have you spent praising God this Christmas season? Have you praised Him yet today? Take a moment now to simply reflect on the birth of Christ and all the events surrounding it. Thank God He was in control of every aspect, and provided His Son through a miraculous birth. 

Remember the birth of Christ this holiday season. Remember to praise God for fulfilling His promise of a Saviour and the payment of your sins.

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX

Yes, from first to last,
from our cradle to our grave,
from the earliest pang of sin’s conviction to the last thrill of sin’s forgiveness,
from earth to Heaven–this will be our testimony in all the way the Lord our
God has led us in the wilderness: “He has done all things well!”

In providence and in grace,
in every truth of His Word,
in every lesson of His love,
in every stroke of His rod,
in every sunbeam that has shone,
in every cloud that has shaded,
in every element that has sweetened,
in every ingredient that has embittered,
in all that has been mysterious, inscrutable, painful, and humiliating,
in all that He gave,
in all that He took away,
this testimony is His just due, and this our grateful acknowledgment
through time and through eternity: “He has done all things well!”

Has He converted us through grace by a way we had thought the most improbable?

Has He torn up all our earthly hopes by the roots?

Has He . . .
  thwarted our schemes,
  frustrated our plans,
  disappointed our expectations?

Has He . . .
   taught us in schools most trying,
   by a discipline most severe,
   and lessons most humbling to our nature?

Has He . . .
  withered our strength by sickness,
  reduced us to poverty by loss,
  crushed our heart by bereavement?

And have we been tempted to exclaim, “All these things are against me!“

Ah! no! faith will yet obtain the ascendancy, and sweetly sing:
    “I know in all things that befell,
     My Jesus has done all things well!”

Beloved, it must be so–for Jesus can do nothing wrong!

Study the way of His providence and grace with the microscopic eye of faith–view them in every light, examine them in their minutest detail, as you would the petal of a flower, or the wing of an insect; and, oh, what wonders, what beauty, what marvelous adaptation, would you observe in all the varied dealings with you, of your glorious Lord!

(Philip Schaff, 1866)

This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms—conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon.

Without science and learning—He shed more light on things human and divine, than all philosophers and scholars combined.

Without the eloquence of schools—He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of any orator or poet.

Without writing a single line—He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and sweet songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.

Born in a manger and crucified as a malefactor—He now controls the destinies of the civilized world, and rules a spiritual empire……..

There never was in this world, a life so sincere, modest, and humble in its outward form and condition—and yet producing such extraordinary effects upon all ages, nations, and classes of men. The annals of history produce no other example of such complete and astounding success, in spite of the absence of those material, social, literary, and artistic powers and influences—which are indispensable to success for a mere man.

Christ stands, in this respect also, solitary and alone among all the heroes of history, and presents to us an insolvable problem, unless we admit Him to be more than man—even the eternal Son of God!

MORNING MANNA               12-20-24

MISERY MINISTRY?

“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,(which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.”-Acts 4:36-37

 About 100 years ago a preacher said, “This is the most corrupt age the world has ever seen.” That echoed what many others had said many years before and it has been repeated many times since. So, who is right? Perhaps they were all right. All had a good reason for feeling as they did, because “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse”(2 Tim. 3:13). The world is on a downhill slide! 

Regardless of the time in which a person lives, the world is wicked, days are difficult, and times are tough. That’s life– “of few days and full of trouble.”(Job 14:1).Our burdens are heavy and the battle is fierce. For many it is more shadow than sunshine, more winter than spring, and their hopes fade like the flowers after being touched by the frost. Many are driven to despair. So, how do we respond?

 As bad as life is, here’s the good news–we always have an opportunity to be an encourager. There is always someone whose difficulty is our door of opportunity. Their misery becomes our means of serving God, by ministering to their needs. Let us not add to the burdens of others by treating them unkindly, nor neglecting them with calloused indifference, nor joining them in their pity party by constantly harping about the difficulties and unfairness of life. May we instead come to their side as encouragers and helpers, pouring strength into their soul and hope into their heart, showing them the difference that Christ can make in a person’s life. There are more than enough discouragers. We need more encouragers–people who care enough to get involved in the lives of others, people who are focused on ministry rather than misery. How about it–will you sign-up for service today? Someone needs you! Go, encourage them in Jesus name.- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

 Humble, TX.