Manna for Your Morning

Jesus …[willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.  — Titus 2:14 (AMP) “…you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (See 1 Peter 2:9 NLT) “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. (Titus 2:12-13 NLT)

“ Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. ” — 1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT) “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NLT)  But as men and women of God, let us fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you... (See 1 Timothy 6:12 NLT) “For, at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords.” (1 Timothy 6:15 NLT)

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. — Philippians 3:8-9 (NLT) May we get rid of anything or anyone who hinders our relationship with Christ, as though it were rubbish. Nothing can compare to the excellence of knowing Christ intimately, walking with Him daily and become one with Him. Gaining Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior has a value that surpasses anything this world has to offer. In Him, we have everything that pertains to life and godliness. Without Him, we have nothing and can do nothing. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the n...

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” — Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. (Ephesians 2:1 NLT) All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. (Ephesians 2:3 NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You lived in this world without God and without hope. (See Ephesians 2:12) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT) But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13 NLT) Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now...

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude. — Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) Let us live and move and have our being in Christ, the king of kings and Lord of lords. (See Acts 17:28 & Revelation 19:16) In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. (Colossians 3:11 NLT)

The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.   — Acts 27:18-20 (NASB1995) When the storms of life seem to go on and on, do not lose hope. The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalms 34:17 NLT) In Isaiah 43:2 (NLT), the LORD says: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” You may experience some loss in the midst of the storm. There may be some things you need to get rid of to lighten your load, but the LORD will rescue you. (See Psalms 34:19)