Manna for Your Morning

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ — Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV) No one wants to hear Jesus speak these words: “I never knew you; depart from Me” But we must realize that a religion is not going to save us. Being a member of God’s family and living forever in His Presence is all about having a relationship with Jesus the Christ. For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18 NASB). Philippians 3:10 (AMP) says, “ And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers] …” Our greatest pursuit in life is to know Him and be kno...

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:26 (NLT) To all who receive Christ, to those who believe in his name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12). We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s family. (Ephesians 2:19). Being a child of God is not about religion, rules or rituals. It's all about relationship, a healthy, thriving relationship with our Maker. The Message Bible says, by faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. (Galatians 3:26 MSG). We are sons and daughters of the Most High God, and He is our Heavenly Father. Being a child of God is our highest calling, and the richest, most privileged relationship we can engage in. Our relationship is based on the unconditional love Abba, Father, has for us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39). Let His powerful love permeate every area of your b...

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) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). Life apart from Christ is a life with no hope. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). As members of God’s family we have been given access to enjoy a close intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. We are not visitors. We don’t wear welcome out. Our heavenly Father wants us close to Him at all times. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need i...

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. — Colossians 3:15 (NLT) As brothers and sisters in the family of God, we are called to live in peace. His peace is to rule in our hearts. That means peace is to have dominion over worry, envy, strife, jealousy, etc. Instead of picking each other apart, we are to pick each other up. Let us stop fretting over earthly concerns, and cultivate peace, in our hearts and in our relationships. As we abide in His peace, we see all that we have to be thankful for. With peaceful hearts, we are able to appreciate all the wonderful things God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. — Luke 14:23 (NKJV) Jesus was sent to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He was sent to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come…(Isaiah 61:1-2 NLT). There are many lives yet to be saved. There are many who need to be touched with the love of God. There are so many who need to know He cares. Let us be compelled to share the good news and invite the lost and hurting into God's family.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. — Psalm 90:1-2 (NIV) God has been our dwelling place, in all generations. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes (Ephesians 1:4 NLT). Only in God, our heavenly Father, will we find true fulfillment and purpose in this life. The fullness of our peace and joy are wrapped up in His Presence. As we abide in Him, our spirits are truly made alive and set free. He alone is our living hope and this hope does not disappoint. Don't lodge with Him occasionally, as a visitor, come and stay, take up permanent residence in Him, as a member of God's family. It's where you belong!

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. — Isaiah 60:2 (NIV) Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you (Isaiah 60:1). May we allow the glorious light of God to shine through us and illuminate the world around us, that others may be touched by His love, comforted with His peace and drawn into His family. Shine ever brighter as a beacon of light in the earth.

God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. — Colossians 1:13-14 (MSG) Twenty-five years ago today, God rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of His dear Son. He brought me into His family and made me His daughter, an heir of God through Christ and partaker of His wonderful promises. What great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1 NIV). As members of God's family, we have a higher calling and a glorious plan for our lives. We are a generation that has been chosen to fulfill God's will in the earth. So let us live as people of light, purpose and destiny!