Dear Readers in Christ, "Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

Saturday 31 August 2013

Aug 31 - CLEANSE YOUR HOUSE!

“Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing” (Deut 7:26)
 


Many saintly people say that this verse directly warns against bringing a television set into the house. The abominations that appear in modern television programmes are unparalleled in history. Statistics reveal that many murders, sexual offences, robberies, divorces, etc. are caused by programmes appearing on this idiot box.

Once a precious child of God named Samuel was very sick. He started examining his life and seeking the Lord, trying to find out why he continued to be sick. One day he had a vision. A demon was sitting on his house-top – where the aerial of the television set was set up. And through that aerial, the demon was sending into his house various demons, including sicknesses. Samuel immediately got rid of the television set. He was instantly and completely healed.

Child of God, perhaps the demon of sickness is not leaving your house because this abominable magic box is there. Cleanse your house. Let the God of all grace keep your heart and home clean.
 
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Friday 30 August 2013

Aug 30 - CALLED TO REVEAL JESUS

 “…called me by His grace to reveal His Son in me” (Gal 1:15,16).


This is the grand, high calling we have. This is the purpose of our life. Paul understood that. If we know that this is our calling, if we are diligent about this calling of ours, we will never fall. We will not fall in our thoughts. But very often we don’t remember the purpose for which the Lord has called us. Paul says, “…to reveal His Son first in me and then through me.” This is the great work God is doing in our life.

If we are aware of this our high calling, whatever the trial that comes our way, our attitude and spirit will be Christlike. “Oh, this trial is to reveal Christ in me!” we will think. We will not feel offended and hurt. That’s why St Peter writes, “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure…if ye do these things ye shall never fall” (II Pet 1:10).

For Christ to be revealed through you, first He has to be formed in you. St Paul says in Galatians 4:19, “I travail in birth until Christ be formed in you.” The baby must first be conceived in the mother’s womb, before it can be born. Spiritually speaking, Christ being formed in us means, getting a clear revelation of the character of Jesus. Jesus was formed in Mary’s womb through the Holy Spirit (Lk 2:31). So, through the Holy Spirit we have to first get a revelation of the character of Christ.

The prayer and longing of a mother expecting a delivery is, “Oh, somehow I must get a safe delivery!” This is true spiritually also. After we get a revelation about the character of Christ our constant prayer will be, “Lord, this revelation should grow and grow and Your character should be revealed through me.” A mother is very careful about the child conceived in her womb. We must carefully preserve the revelation in us. Then Christ will be growing in us.

When a mother delivers a child there is a travail or pain. That is why Paul also says, “I am travailing that Christ may be formed in you.” Child of God, are you travailing in prayer for Christ to be formed in you?

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Thursday 29 August 2013

Aug 29 - FAITH IN CONTROL

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment” (Heb 11:23).


Faith has a test. The testing instrument of faith is called trial. In the time of trial, those who lose faith cannot be called believers; those who keep faith are heroes of faith.

When Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer, was born, Satan wanted to destroy Him right away. In the same way, Satan wanted to destroy Moses, the saviour and deliverer of Israel, when he was born. Similarly, when we want to save and deliver people from sin and destruction, through the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan will be angry and may try to destroy us. Thank God, just as the devil could not touch Jesus and Moses, the devil cannot touch us – the Lord will be a wall around us.

Perhaps the neighbours advised the parents of Moses that it would be foolishness to hide the child. “How long can you hide him? What will happen if the spies of the king hear the cries of the child?” Such fears may appear sensible but the faith of Moses’ parents was unshakeable. Faith might have told them that no evil shall befall them or their child. They might have seen the soldiers of Pharaoh snatch babies from mothers’ hands; they might have even seen the bodies of babies floating in the blue river. What a tremendous faith the parents of Moses had!

Look at the manifold wisdom of faith. Faith first spoke to the Moses’ parents, telling them to hide him in spite of all the dangers around. Then faith told them to throw the child into the river. How could the parents have done that without faith – knowing that there were crocodiles and other dangerous creatures in the river?

Yes, child of God, faith knows no fear. If you will but have faith in your God, you can do great things for Him. You can venture into the dark and the unknown and rescue hell-bound and destruction-bound souls.

 – Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Aug 28 - “STRENGTH FROM OUR COVENANT“



It is our steadfastness in the covenants we make with our God that gives us the inner strength to press on in our spiritual life overcoming every foe and every obstacle on our way. As long as Samson kept his covenant he was a mighty man and no one could withstand him. But the moment he broke it he became an ordinary man and he soon succumbed to his enemies.

Life-giving strength got from the covenant is not something that only a child of God receives; God also derives His strength from His covenant-keeping nature which is self-existent in Him. Read Genesis 1:1. Here the particular usage of God in the original is, Elohim, which is formed with El & Alah. El means ‘faithfulness by an oath,’ and Alah means ‘to show faithfulness by an oath’. Therefore the meaning of Elohim is ‘One Who gets strength because of His faithfulness to the oath or covenant.’

God’s covenant-keeping character could create the heaven and the earth. We, being God’s children, can create a perfect heavenly life and a perfect earthly life by our covenant-keeping character. In other words, unless we maintain a covenant-keeping life we cannot build up our spiritual life or physical life in the perfect way. Many have messed up their lives because they were not faithful in the covenants they made with the Lord. Let us be warned.”
 
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Aug 27 - IN THE PRAYER CLOSET

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa 91:1).


The ‘secret place’ is mentioned seven times in the Bible. What is this secret place? It is our prayer closet. If you don’t love to be alone with God for a long time, it means you are not living in the secret place. It is true we cannot spend much time in prayer if we are tired. But we should long for the presence of God as the deer pants for the water brooks. In one sense, the secret place is the heart of God. Prayer life is, remaining in the heart of God. Once you experience the blessedness and the joy of dwelling in the heart of God, you simply will not want to stop praying.

            “Alone with God, the doors all shut, I see His face

             I feel His love so strong and true, I know His grace;

             His comfort comes in strengthening power to fill my heart;

             Alone with God—how blest it is to ‘come apart’.”

Moses went to the presence of God to the top of the mount. What happened there? God spoke to Moses more than Moses spoke to God. If we live in the heart of God, God will speak to us more than we speak to Him.

Pastor Paul, the founder of our Mission, once wrote a post card to a brother in India which read: “You don’t need to do anything in the ministry. Only continue to sit in the presence of God and, do only what God asks you to.”

Our prayer life is like a great fortress that no enemy can penetrate. The ‘terror by night’, the ‘arrow that flieth by day’, the ‘pestilence that walketh in darkness’, or the ‘destruction that wasteth at noonday’ mentioned in Psalm 91 cannot come near us. The devil simply trembles when he sees even the weakest saint on his knees. How sad it is that many Christians do not know what a great protection they have when they maintain a life of prayer!

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Monday 26 August 2013

Aug 26 - MAKE SURE YOUR HIGH CALLING

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”(Heb 3:1).


We have a heavenly calling, and need to live a holy life, we should consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and not the oppositions from our family, the problems in our surroundings and other obstacles the devil brings up to destroy our heavenly calling. How many useful and blessed servants of God have been attacked by the enemy with doubts concerning their high calling!

The attack of the enemy against Samson was against his high calling. He knew very well that he was raised up by God to destroy the Philistines. However, despising his great high calling, he gave room to lust and loved a Philistine girl, and she, in turn, betrayed him. How sadly he lost his great high calling and died with the Philistines!

How sad that, many who are called to Zion and New Jerusalem are losing their vision and perishing miserably in this world! In times of trials, don’t forget your high calling. With St. Paul, let us also say, “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24).

Child of God, never doubt the high calling of God on your life. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pet 1:10).

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Sunday 25 August 2013

Aug 25 - RISE ABOVE YOUR PROBLEMS



Zacchaeus was the chief among the publicans and he sought to see Jesus and know who He was (Lk 19: 2,3). Many seek Jesus, but they are not in the least interested in knowing Him. To know Jesus is to know His life and character.

Although Zacchaeus had a great desire to see Jesus, the press of the crowd that was round Jesus hindered him. This is true even today. There are sincere souls who seek Jesus and the truth, but alas, the so-called children of God who profess to be closer to Jesus and the church, hinder them from getting to know Jesus. Many children of God who profess to be Christians do not live Christlike lives. Because of this, sincere souls like Zacchaeus are either offended or hindered from coming closer to Jesus.

Another hindrance for Zacchaeus was his short stature. There are many who, like Zacchaeus, are spiritually little of stature though they have been children of God for a very long time. Lack of spiritual growth stands in the way of our seeing Jesus and knowing Him. This is why we are exhorted to grow ‘unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ’ (Eph 4: 13).

Let us be careful that neither other children of God (the crowd around Jesus), nor our own lack of spiritual growth, poses a hindrance to our seeing Jesus and getting to know Him. Like Zacchaeus, let us rise above our problems seeking the help of servants of God (sycomore tree), so that we may see Jesus.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Friday 23 August 2013

Aug 23 - ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER



The last ministry of Moses was the ministry of encouragement. The Lord told him, “Go and encourage Joshua.” It’s after that that the Lord took Moses into glory. Similarly, the last ministry of Jesus was the ministry of encouragement. He told the penitent thief, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” What an encouragement that thief must have got ! Let us encourage others with the Word of God.

Look at one of the last ministries of St. Paul. For forty days and forty nights they had no light, no sun, moon or stars—the ship they were in was caught in a tempest. Nobody could eat; everyone was discouraged. But in that moment of despair, Paul stood up before everyone. “Be of good cheer,” he said, “There stood by me this night the angel of God Whose I am, and Whom I serve.” He was able to encourage others because he knew God was on his side. Child of God, do you know that God is on your side? Then you can encourage others.

The Lord has given you the ministry of encouraging others. Speak the word of faith. Don’t speak out what you see with your natural eyes, and discourage others—like the ten spies did. Let it never once be said of us, “Our brethren have discouraged (melted) our hearts!” Like Joshua and Caleb, let us tell others, “We are well able to overcome!”

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Thursday 22 August 2013

Aug 22 - CONQUER THE LION

 “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid” (Judg 14:6).


Once Samson was confronted by a young lion. The roaring lion we may be facing is possibly a lion-like person, problem or situation, but let us be of good cheer, for, as Caleb said about the giant-like people they saw in the land of Canaan, they are BREAD for us. . .THE LORD IS WITH US’ (Num 14:9).

God was with Samson and he was able to kill the lion, as if it had been a kid. When God is with us the lion that we face is nothing but a kid. However, if God is not with us, even a kid can be as terrifying as a lion. A lion rose against David when he was young, but he slew it. In this modern world, young people face lion-like temptations in their flesh, but often, instead of conquering them, they are conquered by them.

Samson’s victory in his first trial greatly strengthened his faith. “Each victory will help you some other to win,” sang one man of God. Our great trials are intended to greatly strengthen our faith and make us great in the sight of God. Trials are sent, not to put us down, but to raise us up to a higher pedestal for the glory of God.

Dear reader, let us overcome the lion-like person, problem or situation in our life through the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is in us. Let us not forget that the Lord is with us.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Aug 21 - “PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS”

“Made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20).

Note the words, “”made peace”" – not “”gave peace.”" There is a vast difference between making peace and giving peace. You may be able to give someone an expensive electronic watch – it may cost you a couple of hundred dollars. But let’s suppose you made the watch and then gave it to him. You could have spent a fortune studying electronic engineering; a good part of your time might have also been used in those studies. Besides, since you are the one who made the watch, you can repair it if anything goes wrong with it. “”Having MADE PEACE through the blood”" means Jesus is the author of peace, the Prince of peace. The blood of Jesus Christ is so unique. As we have been washed in the blood of Christ, we can always enjoy the peace of God. “”Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means”" (II Thess 3:16).

Millions do not yet know the SECRET OF PERFECT PEACE. Many think riches, name, fame, friends etc. will give them peace; finally they are frustrated and fail to find the SECRET OF PEACE.

Dear reader, if we have been fully washed in the blood of the Lamb, we can always have perfect undisturbed peace of mind. No matter what happens outside, it matters what happens inside!
 
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Aug 20 - SINFUL THOUGHTS ARE VERY SERIOUS



Many well-meaning Christians seem to think that sinful thoughts are not serious sins. They assume that it is alright to have sinful thoughts as long as they do not physically commit any sins.

Look at the way Jesus spoke about it: “Out of the heart of men, proceed EVIL THOUGHTS, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness…”(Mk 7:21-22). Here the Lord put evil thoughts first in the list, even before adulteries and murders.

One main reason why we let evil thoughts defile our mind is because we do not see them as VERY SERIOUS SINS.

It is true, God, in His mercy, delays His punishments and judgments, but if we know the great judgment of God for sinful thoughts, we would tremble. His judgment is worse than twenty years of rigorous imprisonment. The first judgment of God (flood) came upon the earth because “every imagination of the THOUGHTS of his heart was only EVIL continually” (Gen 6:5). Remember, during that period there was no church, no Bible, no Bible teachers or pastors. Furthermore, there was no one to be seen as an example to follow, the Holy Spirit was not given, and Jesus had not died on the cross. Yet, EVIL THOUGHTS were judged were severely. We who live in the Grace Period must work out our salvation with fear and trembling because God’s judgment will be far greater in this dispensation than in the previous ones.

So child of God, ask the Holy Spirit to help you right away. Ask Him to help you cast down imaginations and bring every thought into captivity.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Monday 19 August 2013

Aug 19 - GOD’S MARK OF LOVE

“The Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him” (Gen 4:15).


Though it was obviously a needless fear that Cain had, the Lord was so gracious that He did everything He could to protect him. If only sinners can have their eyes opened to see this wonderful love of the Saviour!

The Lord could have pacified Cain and told him that his fear was unfounded. But this could not have satisfied Cain, he being a sinner. Therefore God promised him a sevenfold vengeance; thus showing him that he was still sevenfold precious to Him. So child of God, never for one moment think you have ceased to be precious in the eyes of the Lord. He loves you inspite of all your sinning and straying. So if you feel you are not close to Him, draw nearer right now.

God’s own hands made a mark on Cain. That mark was the mark of His eternal love for the sinner – to protect him from every fear and worry. If a sinner was marked thus to protect him from danger and fear, how much more certain it is, O child of God of little faith, that God will set a mark on you for your protection and safety!

Everyone who saw Cain could see the mark of God’s love on him. Do we set such a mark of love and care on those who have sinned and displeased us? Can everyone see that we truly love them, that we have not shunned them or rejected them?

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Saturday 17 August 2013

Aug 17 - GOOD WORKS AND WONDERFUL WORKS


When the disciples came to the Lord Jesus after performing their ministry of deliverance, did not the Lord Jesus say, “Rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Lk.10:20)? The Lord is interested more in our life than in our ministry. Let us therefore, give first priority to a spotless life. Let us repent with deep sorrow and be delivered from our unsanctified state. We need to first sanctify ourself before we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus to minister to people.

Many will say to the Lord, “Lord, Lord have we not…in Thy name done many wonderful works?” But what does the Lord say to them? “I never knew you” (Matt 7:22, 23). But in another place the Lord says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). So the Lord Jesus expects us to shine by our good works rather than by the wonderful works which may not glorify the Father’s name. Good works are related to the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, whereas wonderful works relate to the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as, gift of healing, casting out devils, miracles, etc.

Our character, which is displayed through our good works, is more important than our gifts which consist of wonderful works.

- Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Friday 16 August 2013

Aug 16 - HOW TO SPEAK

 “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isa 50:4).


Jesus had the “tongue of the learned”; therefore “gracious words … proceeded out of His mouth.” Of Him we read of people saying things like, “Never man spake like this man,” and “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned ?” (Jn 7:46&15). True, our Lord never learned the way other men learn, and that was why He never spoke as other men did!

Many children of God may know what to speak; however, only few know how to speak. Words of love or encouragement spoken in a harsh tone could result in discouragement and bitterness. Jesus knew how to speak.

The Samaritan woman was in no mood to admit her vices or confess her sins, and she tried to cover up everything by telling an utter lie – “I have no husband!” Instead of accusing her or condemning her, the Lord very wisely answered, “Thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: IN THAT SAIDST THOU TRULY” (Jn 4:17,18). Instead, if He had said, “What you are saying is a lie. I am a prophet. I know you have had five husbands,” the woman would not have changed, though what Jesus said would have been certified as right and proper. “A WORD FITLY SPOKEN is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”(Prov 25:11).

“To speak a word IN SEASON” we should not only know how to speak, but also when to speak. Jesus was careful not to speak of glorious things to the disciples when Judas Iscariot was with them. “THEREFORE, when HE WAS GONE OUT, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified …” and disclosed many other glorious hidden truths. How many problems have cropped up just because we did not speak in season! “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Prov 15:23).

           “A careless word may kindle strife;

            A cruel word may wreck a life;

            A bitter word may hate instill;

            A brutal word may smite and kill;

           A gracious word may smooth the way;

           A joyous word may light the day;

           A timely word may lessen stress;

           A loving word may heal and bless.”

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Aug 14 - IN THE COOL OF THE DAY

“They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen 3:8).


Though man had committed sin, God’s love for him had not changed. Had He not loved man, He would not have come again to the garden to visit them. If His intention was only to punish him and put him out, He could have done that well enough by sending a single angel.

‘Walking’ in the original means, walking in the habitual way. So the Lord was visiting His children in His habitual way. He did not come flying or running, as we often do when we want to punish our children for doing something naughty. What an example the Lord has set for us!

‘In the cool of the day’ - The word for ‘cool’, in the original, also means ‘wind’. Yes, there might have been a cool wind while God was walking. God brings with Him a cool wind. Sin makes man restless. He therefore needs comfort. Hence God might have come ‘in the cool of the day’ to comfort man in his distress.

When someone has done wrong and needs to be reproved or punished, before dealing with him, check your heart carefully for any trace of anger or resentment. Let us not do anything in the heat of our temper. The Lord does nothing rashly, and so shouldn’t we.

A right word spoken at the wrong time is wrong; a right thing done at the wrong time or in a wrong way is wrong.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Aug 13 - BLESSEDNESS IN FORGIVING

“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee” (Psa 128:1, 2).


Fear and forgiveness go together – “there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared” (Psa 130:4).

“That walketh in His ways” When we cannot forgive others we lose the fear of God – instead of walking in His ways we will begin to walk in our own ways. The very fact that you cannot forgive or refuse to forgive someone is that your mind is already set in your own ways. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways” (Pro 14:12,14).You may have many reasons and excuses for not forgiving; however, know that “there is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 14:12).

“Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands.” This is a blessing found in forgiving others. If you refuse to forgive, others will eat the labour of your hands. “Happy shalt thou be.” Yes, forgiving people are always happy people. It has been rightly stated by someone – “A happy marriage is the union of two forgiving persons.” Unforgiving people will always be unhappy. “It shall be well with thee.” Doctors say that if a person cannot forgive others, high blood pressure, nerve tension, heart problem, cancer and many other aliments can afflict him.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Forgiving others too, is the beginning of wisdom.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Monday 12 August 2013

Aug 12 - LIVING ON THE BORDER

“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom 13:14).


There was once a mother who faced a strange problem. Every night she would place her little boy to sleep in the middle of the bed. But in the middle of the night, the boy would fall on the floor with a thud. The mother will go and put the child back in the middle of the bed. But again, after sometime, the boy would be on the floor. Finally one day the mother kept watch over the child and discovered the boy’s problem. He had the habit of coming to the edge of the bed and sleeping holding onto the edge.

This can be our problem also. There are so many things we do almost bordering sin or the world. We may ask, “What is wrong in looking at that? What is the harm in going there? Does the Bible say one shouldn’t do that? ” Our question should be rather. “What do I gain by it?” If there is no gain in a thing there must be some harm in it.

Let us not make provision for the flesh. Let us always be sure that the things we allow in our lives are in the center of God’s will.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess 5:24). Finding out some loop holes to go to the edge of the world and living a bordering Christian life is dangerous. “Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” means revealing Christ. In everything we do we must reveal Christ.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Saturday 10 August 2013

Aug 10 - ‘KEPT’ FROM SINNING

 “Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her”( Gen 20:5,6).


Abimelech was only a heathen king. He did not have a vision of the God of glory like Abraham did, and yet he had a great fear of God. In verse 8 we read that when Abimelech learnt that the woman he had taken was a man’s wife, he and his people “were sore afraid”.

The Lord Himself testifies to his ‘integrity of heart’. Because Abimelech was sincere and upright in his ways, the Lord “kept” him from sinning against Him. We find a great spiritual truth here. If we are sincere and upright before God in all that we do, if we fear to displease the Lord, the Lord will keep us from falling into sin ignorantly. “He will keep the feet of His saints.”

David did not act in innocence and sincerity in Bathsheba’s matter. So he fell into outright sin. He realizes this later and prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults… and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” (Psa 51:10; 19:12,13).

So child of God, whatever you do, do it ‘in the integrity of your heart’. Let not your heart condemn you in anything you do.

“The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil.”

– Taken  from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Friday 9 August 2013

Aug 09 - HOW WILL YOU ENTER INTO YOUR REST?

 “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day” (Gen 1:31; 2:2).


God carefully reviews anything He does or makes. Often we do not care to do that. As God had made everything good, at last everything was found to be very good. Finding everything that He had done to be good gave Him rest. When we find that something we did is wrong, we are naturally restless. On the other hand, if we do everything right, we get a satisfaction and rest which we cannot get anywhere else.

Just as God entered into rest after completing His good work, after we accomplish our life-work we will enter into the rest of God. This rest will end in an endless morning. [We don’t see an evening on the seventh day.] Our life also should end in the morning and not in the evening i.e. our life should end in joy—‘joy cometh in the morning’. The morning is fresh and beautiful. We should go to our rest in heaven with new life and joy and not with sickness and tiredness or with an ‘It is enough’ cry as did Elijah. We should go to rest in heaven with full satisfaction and with the joy of perfection as God did.

Our works should give us full satisfaction and rest when we enter into our rest. May our Lord be able to say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: … enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Thursday 8 August 2013

Aug 08 - DANGERS IN TURNING ASIDE



In the story of the Good Samaritan, the man fell into trouble because the man left Jerusalem (where the house of God was) to go to Jericho (cursed city, signifying the world). Similarly, we see Naomi suffering because they left Bethlehem and went to Moab – she lost her husband and also her two sons. What a price for leaving the place where God wants one to be, for turning aside from the ways of God!

Even before Abraham reached Egypt he was in real trouble, and he taught his wife to tell a lie (Gen 12:11-13). Abraham feared that the people of the land would kill him and take Sarah if he told them she was his wife. He thought only of himself – of his own safety and security. (When you think only of yourself, you are already in Egypt.) His duty was to protect Sarah, his wife, but instead, he wanted to selfishly protect himself – this is the state of Egypt.

Abraham was afraid to reveal his relationship with Sarah. If you come down to the level of the world and wish to adjust to the world, you become very shy of your true relationship with your brethren and even with Christ Himself.

May the Lord help us to remain faithful to the truth to the very end. We are living in the last days – days of which St. Paul said that there shall be a ‘falling away’, days in which many shall turn their ears away from the truth. So let us take heed to ourselves. Let us commit ourselves to Him Who is able to keep us. “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”(Jude 24).

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Aug 07 - NEED FOR A PURE HEART

 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Pet 1:22).


We need to purify our hearts because that helps us to obey the truths of God. The more our hearts are purified, the more we will be able to obey the truths. In the same way, if our hearts are not purified, even if deep truths from the Word of God are taught to us, we will not have the grace to obey them. If we pour delicious honey into a cup that is not clean, the honey will get defiled. Only a purified soul can be receptive to the deep truths of the Word of God. “Laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere (pure) milk of the word” (I Pet 2:1,2).

Dear reader, do you want to receive deeper truths from the Word of God? Then purify your heart in a deeper way.

When the heart is not pure, your love too is not pure – “See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.” This shows that, to love fervently or with Calvary’s love, we need pure hearts. St. Paul speaks of “charity out of a pure heart” (I Tim 1:5). If a person does not have a pure heart his love will not be pure; it will be but a false one.

 – Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Aug 6 - A GOOD REPORT

 “For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report” (Heb 11:2)


Faith is an unfailing witness - it speaks to our heart that God’s Word is true. Just as unbelief is a (wrong) spirit, faith is a (right) spirit. The spirit of faith makes us see what God has planned for us - which eye hath not seen nor ear heard (I Cor 2:9,10). The spirit of unbelief, however, drives a person to see what the devil plans for us (misery, confusion, sickness, pain etc).

If God is to give us a good report at the end, our life and ministry should be based only and always on faith in the promises of God. Faith always gives a good report, as we see in the case of Joshua and Caleb. Some are always ‘negative’ and speak ‘negative’ – all because they don’t believe the Word of God. They magnify their problems – like the unbelieving spies did when saying that the cities of the Amorites were “walled up to heaven” (Deut 1:28). But Paul says, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment” (II Cor 4:17).

Dear child of God, do you want to obtain a good report from God, before the angels and others at the end of your life, after your life’s work on earth is ended? Then you must trust the Word of God and act on it so that by faith you may obtain a good report.

– Taken from Morning Manna - Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Monday 5 August 2013

Aug 05 - YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE!

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Lk 6:37,38).

Indeed, it is amazing, and yet true that very often forgiving and giving go together – as we find in this text. Also, quite often, those who scarcely give, scarcely forgive. OUR GOD FORGIVES ABUNDANTLY AND ALSO GIVES ABUNDANTLY. “God loves a cheerful giver.” God loves a cheerful forgiver too.

“Give and it shall be given unto you” - whatever it may be that you give. Giving is like sowing. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7). If you give trouble to others, it shall be given to you in return. And one always reaps morethan what one sowed.  In the same way what you give to others you will get back – multiplied – in good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over. You may give kindness to others, you may give hatred, love or forgiveness; no matter what you give, you will receive it, and that, in good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Sunday 4 August 2013

Aug 04 - CONTRASTING SUFFERINGS

 “And divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament” (Gen 1:7).

Not only has the Lord set a firmament in the midst of the waters, but He has also divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament. What a great comfort it is to know that the waters are divided thus! Indeed, the afflictions of children of God who live above the firmament, in heavenly places, are quite different from the afflictions of the wicked or worldly people who live under the firmament.

While the waters below are often salty and hence weighty, the vapour from the waters above (that forms the rain) is tasty and of light weight. No surprise then that St. Paul describes our sufferings as ‘light affliction which is but for a moment’ (2 Cor 4:17). Why ‘for a moment’? Yes, any moment the vapour may disappear by cooling and come down as rain. While the waters above are only for a moment, the waters below remain for ages without any change. Similarly, for children of God, all the sufferings will soon be over (either at His Coming or at their home-call), but for sinners, like the endless sea water, while living on the earth and also after death, their sufferings will keep aggravating and engulfing their lives.

While sea waters cast up mire and dirt, becoming a curse for one and all, vapours in the firmament turn into showers, cooling the dry earth and watering the plants and quenching the thirst of all the living beings on earth – as showers of blessing. Take heart therefore , dear child of God, for our ‘light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us (and for others) a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.’

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Saturday 3 August 2013

Aug 03 - ZEALOUS FOR THE LORD’S WORK



The Samaritan woman Jesus spoke to at the well, left her waterpot and ran to the city to testify of Jesus. How inspiring it is to read that “many of the Samaritans of the city believed on Him for the saying of the woman which testified” (Jn 4:39)!

In contrast, look at what the disciples were doing. When the woman was going to the city, at more or less the same time, the disciples were also going to the city to buy food (vs. 8). One may think the disciples knew more about Jesus than the woman, as they had been with Jesus more than anyone else. In any case, this woman knew Jesus for only a few hours at the most; yet look at her zeal for the Lord’s work. We don’t see the disciples testifying or bringing even a single soul to Christ from the city of Samaria; but this woman brought many of the Samaritans. How strange that even now, it is mostly the new souls who are more burdened about bringing new souls and keen on serving the Lord than the old (cold?) believers!

It is time we leave our water pots (earthly-minded life) at the feet of Jesus. “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor 15:58).

- Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Friday 2 August 2013

Aug 02 - WHEN YOU TAKE THE LAST PLACE…

“The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob“ (Psa 87:2).


“The dwellings of Jacob” refer to the dwellings of the Old Testament saints. How amazing, and yet, how true it is that the gates of Zion are more beautiful than the habitations of the Old Testament saints all put together !

There are more prominent places in a city, than the gates. Spiritually, these gates signify saints who, while on the earth, took the last place. Indeed, the Lord loves the gates of Zion or, the ones who take the last place for the gospel’s sake. St. Paul says he is“less than the least of all saints” (Eph. 3:8).

The Amplified Version of Psalm 87:2 says that crowds of pilgrims from all nations enter through the gates of Zion. When saints take the last place and serve the Lord, they became a great blessing. Through the life and ministry of such saints, people from all nations come to the presence of God as pilgrims of the truth.

God is calling us “from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof”, to serve Him taking the last place – so we can be with Him in Zion, the perfection of beauty, all through Eternity. What a high calling!

Gates also serve as guards to protect the city or house from unpleasant elements. The Lord wants saints who, like these gates, are willing to take the last place – to protect the house of God or church of God.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Thursday 1 August 2013

Aug 01 - BEAUTIFUL AND FRAGRANT LIFE

 “I am the rose of Sharon” (S.S. 2:1).
 

The rose is the queen of flowers. Some flowers are fragrant but not beautiful, and some flowers are beautiful but have no fragrance. The rose is both beautiful and fragrant. As the Bride of Christ, our life must be one of unique beauty, fragrance and sweetness. “Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee..There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, My undefiled is but one,” says the Bridegroom of the Bride (S.S. 4:7; 6:8,9).

Everywhere around the rose there are thorns. When the wind blows the soft petals of the rose are pricked by the thorns. What does the rose give in return? It gives sweet fragrance. We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse people, people who prick and hurt, people who cannot love; we need to perfume their lives with the aroma of forgiving love and kindness.

The oak tree lives for a thousand years but it has no beauty or fragrance. The rose lives for only a short period but it is beautiful and it gives good fragrance. It matters not how many days we live but how we live. Our life, all our days, must be filled with beauty and fragrance.

The Christian life is truly a beautiful and fragrant life, for it is the life of revealing Christ, of revealing Christlikeness to the world. “Now thanks be unto God which maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.” So child of God, Let Christ fill your life. Without Him you have no holiness, no beauty. Let Him shine out of you.

The rose never has to go to the butterfly and bee. They come to it even if it is in a corner. When we are like the rose, filled with sweet honey, souls will flock to us to taste of God’s love, to taste of Christlikeness.

Dear child of God, today you may be a thorn in the garden of God, the Church.

However, our gracious Lord can transform you into a beautiful rose, filled with fragrance and honey – if only you will repent and return to Him.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion