MORNING MANNA          4-11-22

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

“ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”- Luke 10:37

   The Good Samaritan is our Lord’s own picture of what Christian love should be, in every one of His disciples. We ought to study it with loving interest, getting its spirit into our own hearts. It adds force also to the teaching, to remember that it was an enemy whom the Samaritan helped. Christian love is to exercise itself not only in being kind to friends, to those who are gracious and good–but its distinguishing characteristic is kindness to enemies.

      In a sense, this Good Samaritan is a picture of Christ Himself. The wounded man represents humanity, robbed and beaten by sin, ready to die. The priest and the Levite represent human religions which, at the best, give only a glance of pity and then pass on. But Jesus comes full of compassion, serving and nursing back into life, healing, and wholeness, dying souls.

      A Chinese man thus described the relative merits of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity. A man had fallen into a deep, dark pit, and lay in its miry bottom, groaning and unable to move. Confucius came by, approached the edge of the pit, and said: “Poor fellow, I am very sorry for you. Why were you such a fool as to get in there? Let me give you a piece of advice–if you ever get out, don’t get in again.” “I cannot get out,” groaned the man.

      Then the Buddhist priest next came by, and said: “Poor fellow, I am very much pained to see you here. I think if you could scramble up two-thirds of the way, or even half, I could reach you and lift you up the rest.” But the man in the pit was entirely helpless, unable to climb up even the smallest part of the way. He could do nothing to help himself.

      Then Jesus Christ came by, and, hearing the man’s cries, he went to the very brink of the pit, stretched down, and laid hold of the poor fellow, and said, “Go, sin no more.” That is what Christianity does.

      “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” That was the Master’s question. The lawyer could not help answering, “The one who showed mercy to him.” Then came the application, “Go–and DO likewise.” It is not enough to hear good lessons or look on good examples. When we have heard and seen–we must go out and DO the good things which are so beautiful, which our judgment commends.

      It is not enough for the artist to have lovely visions in his mind–he must get his visions on the canvas, where they will be blessings to the world.

      It is a precious privilege to look at noble lives and to read heavenly counsels. But we must reproduce in disposition, in act, in character, in our own lives–the excellent things we read. Now we have read and understand the story of the Good Samaritan. Is that all we need to do? No! We must “Go–and DO likewise!”– (J. R. Miller)

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

MORNING MANNA            4-10-22

THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”- Zechariah 4:6

Here is still another negative –positive that provides help in our dilemma. If there are hosts against us, there are also hosts on our side. The King of Syria sent a host against Elisha, but “behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots round about Elisha.” No wonder he assured his servant, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”

If we are beset by an unseen foe, we are also befriended by an Unseen Friend. Great is our adversary but greater is our Ally. “The battle is the Lord’s” If there are evil angels there are also good angels. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

I noticed recently a repair shop operated by a man named Angel. His sign read, “Angel Service.” I laughed and said, “I’ve had angel service for years. ‘Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’”

Joshua, before the battle of Jericho, met the captain of the host of the Lord. The conquest of the hosts of evil depends on the Captain of the hosts of God. Before Jericho, meet Jesus!- Vance Havner

If you are saved, regardless of what comes against you there is a greater power for you. As Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”(Phil. 4:13). –HDS

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

MORNING MANNA            4-9-22

LOVING GOD

“ We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

The New Testament is full of references to God’s love for us. John 3:16 is perhaps the most popular, and tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 tells us that God showed His love by Christ dying while we were still sinners. Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:35-39, and Ephesians 3:17-19 are just a few more examples of New Testament passages that explain, in various ways, the great love of God for His children.

You may be surprised to learn, however, that there are very few New Testament references about our love for God. It makes sense, actually, because as 1 John 4:19 teaches, our love for God is responsive. We only love God because He first loved us. He initiates, we respond. Because of sin, it is not natural for us to love God and seek Him. That is why God did not wait for us to come to Him. Instead, He came to us through His Son, Jesus, and made a way for us to get to Him. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). What greater love could there be?

This is what makes Christianity so unique. It is not a religion with an impersonal God. It is a personal relationship with a real, live, personal God. He wants to be personally involved in our lives and to be invited into the dark crevices and hidden corners so that He can graciously usher us into the light of His truth. He wants to be more than just The God. He wants to be your God and my God.

Have you personally responded to the great love of God towards you? He has shown you His love for you in His Son, Jesus. How will you respond?

God, thank You for loving me first. Thank You for seeking me out while I was lost in sin. Please help me to never take Your grace and forgiveness for granted. Help me to love You more and more each day as I study Your Word, pray, serve others, and share my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.( Copied)

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

MORNING MANNA         4-8-22

PLEASURE IN INFIRMITIES 

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong”  (2 Cor. 12:10).

The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here It is: “Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ’s sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite.”

Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him.–A. B. Simpson

George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: “My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.

“Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows.”  (Streams in the Desert)

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

MORNING MANNA         4-7-22

JESUS CARES

“But Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.”-Job 6:1-4

At a young age, Frank Graeff committed his life to serving God. He trained for the ministry and spent many years working with children and young people. He was noted for his positive attitude, so much so that one of his contemporaries nicknamed him the “sunshine minister.” Yet Graeff’s life was far from simple or easy. He struggled with serious health issues that would take his life at just fifty-nine years of age. While still in his thirties, Graeff wrote a hymn that expressed his confidence in God during times of suffering.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

There are times when we are tempted to wonder if anyone cares. We may be let down by those on whom we depended most. That was Job’s experience. In his time of great suffering and loss his friends came, but rather than comforting him they accused him of harboring hidden sin in his life and being proud and arrogant. Job knew that he was suffering, though he did not know about Satan’s conversation with God that was behind his troubles, and he wanted the hurt of his heart to be taken seriously. When no one else cared, Job knew he could trust in God. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15).

No burden we face is unimportant to God, and no tear we shed escapes His notice. – Daily in the Word

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