Manna for Your Morning

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.”  — Matthew 10:21-22 (NLT) As followers of Christ, we can expect the world to hate us. May we patiently persevere the troubles and trials we go through in this life, and endure to the end. …do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.” (Hebrews 10:35-37 NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with enduran...

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” — Luke 6:27-28 (NLT) Yeshua repeats this command. It is no mistake. “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:35-36 NLT) May we be willing to listen and eager to obey the teaching of Yeshua, our Savior and Lord. In Luke 6:46 (NASB1995), Yeshua asks: “ Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ”

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” — Luke 6:27-28 (NIV) When we restrain that fleshly inclination to strike back at those who come against us, and instead, love them with the unconditional love God has given to us, we allow His light to shine through us and draw others into His kingdom. Our peace is not based on the condition that people treat us the way we think they should. True peace and fullness of joy comes when we walk in the will and ways of our heavenly Father. In Luke 6:46, Jesus asks, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” — Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV) May we counteract persecution with prayers and hatred with love. Speak a blessing over those who curse you. Let the absolute worst in others, bring out nothing but the best in you.

For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.  — Psalm 97:9-12 (NIV) The LORD preserves the lives of His saints and delivers us from the hand of our enemies. Praise His holy name! He causes His light and joy to shine on those who are upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD!