MORNING MANNA         2/23/20

I want you to notice the little word “all”. It is of big importance. In this day when God’s word is so lightly regarded it is a blessing to see people who read it faithfully. They are wise. However, sometimes there is a fault in their manner of Bible study. Sometimes those who love the Word and spend much time in it tend to gravitate to those passages that appeal to them and neglect those that don’t. They study cafeteria style, where they pick and choose what they like and leave the rest. But that’s a serious blunder.

I know, it is only natural that in our pain and with our problems we seek out those verses that comfort and encourage us. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is more to it than that. Paul said in Rom. 11:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God”. Yet today we hear a lot about the love of God and little about His law and lividity. We speak often of His affection, but seldom of His anger. We seem to have forgotten that God’s Word is both bitter and sweet ( Rev. 10:9-10) and both serve a purpose that is needed. We must not dote on the one and despise the other. Not only do we need sweet words of consolation, there are times when we need the stern words of correction. That’s why we dare not get our of balance. To think of heaven is wonderful, but we also should give thought to hell – Jesus did. Pastors are to preach the whole counsel of God so as to give people what they need rather than just what they want.

As unpleasant as it might be to read the bitter portions of God’s Word, it is profitable. It’s better to feel the sting of a rebuke from God’s Word to convict us than it is to feel the pain of God’s rod to correct us. We put ourselves in peril when we pass over anything God has spoken. He demands and deserves our attention. A song is more pleasant than the sound of a siren, but sometimes a warning is far more important. It can be life saving. If you just listen to what you want to hear you will miss what you need to hear. – HDS

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