Jun 30 - MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST

 “He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin” (1 Jn 3:5).

Every manifestation of Christ, or revelation of the knowledge of Christ in our lives takes sin out of us. The more Christ is revealed in us, the more we are sanctified. In other words, the revelation of the knowledge of Christ deeply purifies us. Every MANIFESTATION of Christ in and through us helps us to be separated from sins and be drawn closer to Christ, just as, the more light shines, the more darkness is dispelled.

“In Him is no sin.” Therefore, as we hide ourselves in the sinless Son of God, we can also grow to a sinless perfection. On the other hand, instead of hiding ourselves in Him, if we “show ourselves,” we are exposed to sin and we may forfeit our sanctification and salvation. The more we hide in Him, the more we are cleansed and sheltered.

“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (vs 6). Abiding in Christ virtually means hiding in Christ. How is it that by hiding in Him we can avoid sinning? When WE HIDE IN JESUS THE ENEMY CANNOT SEE US, just as a man hiding inside a building cannot be seen. “Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” This proves that the more we are sanctified, the more we see Him or His glory. Also, the more we are or sanctified, the more we know Him. In short, if we wholeheartedly love a spotlessly pure life, we can see and know Christ as never before.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil” (vs 8). Every manifestation or revelation of the knowledge of Christ destroys the works of the devil. We are living in a world where the works of the devil (sin, sickness, etc.) are being manifested more and more. It is therefore essential that our life manifest Christ, as never before.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 29 - TRUE CONVERSION

When Jesus entered the house of Zacchaeus, His disciples, instead of rejoicing, started murmuring. However, Zacchaeus was not deterred by their exemplary behavior, and he stood up to give his first testimony. His first testimony was a confession of his faults, and a dedication of himself to the Word of God. Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Lk 19:8). The Word of God demands fourfold restoration (See Exodus 22: 1). Acting strictly according to the Word of God, he is now willing to restore fourfold all that he has stolen from God or man.

When a person is really converted and Jesus comes into his life, just as it happened in Zacchaeus’ life, his life will be radically changed and he will be willing to conform to every detail of the Word of God, whatever the cost may be. When Jesus comes into one’s life, one of the first things one does is to become faithful in money matters.

Along with St.Paul, Zacchaeus could boldly say: “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil 3 :7,8).

Immediately after this short and sweet testimony, Jesus gives a testimony about Zacchaeus: “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham” (Lk 19:9). Many children of God testify about themselves but Jesus may not have any testimony about them.

 – Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 28 - TOO LATE!

King David asked Amasa to assemble the people in three days’ time. But, “he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him … and Amasa wallowed in blood” (II Sam. 20:4,5,12). The Bible is full of warnings about the ‘spirit of delay’. A right thing should be done in the right way, and that, IN THE RIGHT TIME.

Once a man of God was exhorting everyone to commit their life to Christ. A man in the audience, although convicted, thought he would give his life to Christ the next day – as the preacher had a few more days of meetings there. That ‘next day’ never arrived; on the way back home that very night he died of a snake -bite.

Many have good intentions – to surrender their life to Christ, to take water baptism, to serve God, etc. However, ‘the spirit of delay’ ruins all these good intentions. They say, “We will do it later, when a convenient time arrives.” Although Felix the governor trembled at the preaching of Paul and was convicted of his sins, he told Paul, “When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24.25). That ‘convenient season’ never came. Felix must be repenting in hell for the spirit of delay which doomed his eternity.

In hell it’s all regret – too late to repent, too late to come to Christ … too late, too late. Some are going to spend all eternity weeping because of their delaying. Dear reader, let not your delaying lazy spirit ruin your eternity. If the Lord wants you to do something today, don’t postpone it to the morrow. If the Lord calls you to serve Him, obey His call NOW.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 27 - YOU CAN’T ESCAPE

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov 16:25).

Sometimes our own plans may appear better, more sensible or more convenient the plans of God. However, “the end thereof are the ways of death.” We observe that it begins in ‘a way’ but ends in ‘ways’. Our own ‘way’ will finally become ‘ways’. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways” (Prov 14:14). Our self will leads us in many directions, finally leading to death. We get alienated from the presence of God.
 

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. But he planned to go to Tarshish instead. He found a ship going to that place ready. There was a seat available, and he had the money for the ticket too. For some time, his own plans seemed favourable to him. However, fairly soon a storm struck the ship. He encountered such problems that he almost died.

Dear child of God, are you a Jonah – running away from the plan of God, having your own plans? Remember, sooner or later a storm will overtake you. You better give up your own plans, although they may appear encouraging to your carnal mind. Steer clear off the devil’s ways and your own ways if you don’t want to ruin your life and your future.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 26 - THE GREATEST FEAT

“What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3).

The grand purpose of God in sending Jesus to this world to die on the cross was to condemn sin in the flesh. What the saints of the law period could not do, was to live a perfectly holy life – although they could do many other things like raising the dead, dividing the Red Sea, etc. This proves that living an overcoming life is better and greater than performing miracles, raising the dead, etc.

The greatest feat is overcoming the flesh; the greatest defeat is giving in to the flesh.
 

Jesus ‘condemned sin’ by His death on the cross. So we, in the New Testament Period, are free to live a holy life. “The law of the Spirit if life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). Do we have any excuse then, if we DO NOT LIVE A HOLY LIFE?

God sent the judgment of flood to destroy ‘all flesh’ (Gen 6:13; 7:21). The same will be the purpose of the coming judgment -“Except those days should be shortened there should no FLESH be saved” (Matt 24:22).

Let us therefore “make no provision for the flesh,” but overcome the flesh by the Spirit of God. “For if ye lie after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom 8:13).

           “‘Holiness unto the Lord’

            is our watchword and song,

            ‘Holiness unto the Lord’

            as we’re marching along,

           Sing it, shout it, loud and long,

           ‘Holiness unto the Lord’ now and for ever.”
 

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 25 - HEALING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Through the blood of the Lamb we have healing. The balm of Gilead of the Old Testament is a type of the blood of Christ. “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered?” (Jer 46:11 & 8:22).

Forgiveness of sin and healing of sickness go together. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases”(Psa103:3). If the blood of Jesus can wash away sins, it can also heal. In fact, it can do much more than that – a blood-washed saint’s life can be sheltered from plagues. In the Old Testament the blood-sprinkled house was protected from the plague - “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you” (Exo 12:13). In the New Testament Jesus is the Pascal Lamb slain for us. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isa 53:5).

Dear reader, sin is one main cause for sickness. In many places we read of Jesus first forgiving sins and then healing the sickness. Sin enables the devil to enter a person’s life, and then captivate him through sickness. If a person is washed from all his sins by the blood of Jesus the devil cannot work or bring sickness in his life. Thus the power of healing begins in him.

 – Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

Jun 24 - HIGHER AND HIGHER

“The flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth” (Gen 7:17).

When Noah obeyed God’s Word and entered into the ark, it gradually lifted him up from the earth. This is amazingly true in our spiritual life also. Our ark is Christ. As we respond to the gospel-call and enter into Christ or, as Christ enters into our life, He lifts us up from the earthly sphere to heavenly heights. The higher we rise, the smaller the things of the world seem. The things of the earth no longer seem glamorous and attractive. Things which once held us in allure now hold little appeal for us. “The more of heaven we cherish, the less of earth we covet.”

 The more the ark was lifted up, the higher Noah went. Similarly, the more we lift up Christ, the more we are lifted up for the glory of God. We become the light of the world, a ‘city set on a hill’; seeing our light men glorify the Father in heaven (Matt 5:14,16).

 “The mountains were covered.” As we go higher in our spiritual life, the mountain–like problems that once loomed large disappear from our view. Our life is now a joyful song – a song of worship, praise and adoration.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion