Manna for Your Morning

Now it happened as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart. — 1 Chronicles 15:29 (LSB) After the ark of Yahweh was placed inside the tent, David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. Then he blessed the people. (See 2 Samuel 6:17-18 LSB) Second Samuel 6:20 (NLT) says: When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” Our words truly reveal what is in our hearts. Matthew 12:34 says: …out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Due to her negative attitude, Michal missed out on the blessing from her husband and also the blessing of bearing a child. She remained childless her entire life. (See 2 Samu...

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. — Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) Consider Jesus. He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; (Isaiah 53:3 AMP). He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; (Isaiah 53:7 AMP). Just take a moment and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself. Hebrews 12:3 (AMP) says, “…consider it all in comparison with your trials, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plo...

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” — John 6:37 (NKJV) Most of us know the pain of rejection. Even Jesus was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3). Rejection often leads to feelings of being unwanted and thoughts of not being good enough. It sometimes creates a pretense that we don’t need anyone. Thank God that our past experiences with flawed humanity, is not the end of the story! Jesus, the good Shepherd, calls us to COME to Him. Jesus says He will never cast out those who come to Him. In the Amplified version, He says, “I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me.” He holds on and doesn’t let go. No matter who you are and no matter what you have done, Jesus loves you and wants you close to Him. He will comfort you in all affliction.