Manna for Your Morning

“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” — John 16:33 (MSG) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12 NLT).  Jesus told us, here on earth we will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33 NLT). However, as we place our trust in God, we will stand unshaken by the ordeals of this life and assured of the Lord’s deliverance. Take heart! Jesus has overcome the world.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Christ Jesus the Lord, firmly and deeply planted in Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth. (Colossians 2:7). And you will not be bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Your leaves will stay green, and they will never stop producing fresh fruit. Amen!

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) We are to love one another deeply, from the heart (1Peter 1:22, NIV). Sincere love never gives up on others. It always looks for and is ready to believe the best of every person. True love accepts people for who they are, and encourages them to do their best. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, without growing weak (1 Corinthians 13:7, AMP). Let our love for others be strong, always hopeful and resilient!

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. — Romans 12:9 (NLT) Let us deeply and sincerely love others. For most people, it's easy to say, “I love you” but a sincere love is not only spoken. It is shown with action and backed up with a kind and supportive attitude. What we do speaks volumes more than what we say. When Jesus showed the disciples the full extent of His love, He washed their feet (John 13:1-5). Afterward, Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet,” (John 13:14). Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you washing the feet of others, (helping to meet their needs)?

“Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye?” — Luke 6:41 (GW) Why is it so easy to see someone else's “stuff” and not our own? We conveniently make excuses for ourselves when we say something that should have been left unspoken. And we are able to justify and minimize our attitudes, when they are not right. However, the second greatest commandment is for us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). So let us always look to see the good in the other person. Maybe they are just having a “bad” day. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).