Manna for Your Morning

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” — Mark 12:29-31 (NLT) Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NLT) Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. (See Joshua 24:15)

“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:43-45 (NLT) Yeshua told his disciples that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But, He says, it is to be different among His followers. (See Mark 10:42-43) Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB1995) says: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. May we continually strive to serve others. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. 

“ If it is evil in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh. ” — Joshua 24:15 (LSB) God has given us free will. Each person gets to choose for themselves, who they will serve. It's a choice between life and death, good and evil, blessing and cursing. (See Deuteronomy 30) Let us make a dedicated decision to follow Yahweh, and our Savior, Yeshua the Messiah, each and every day. Don’t waver between opinions. Be committed to follow Christ. There is no impartial position, nor a neutral gray area. In Luke 11:23, Yeshua says: “He who is not with Me is against Me…” “So now, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to Yahweh, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to His voice.” (Joshua...

For every soldier called to active duty must divorce himself from the distractions of this world so that he may fully satisfy the one who chose him. — 2 Timothy 2:4 (TPT) Let us divorce ourselves from the distractions of this world. We do not belong to the world. (John 17:14) We have been called out of darkness into His wonderful light, so we can show others the goodness of God (1 Peter 2:9 NLT). Let us proclaim the excellencies of the Most High God. We were called to active duty, not to passively sit by the wayside and be a spectator. We are a chosen people, chosen to actively and passionately serve the LORD. May we fully satisfy the One Who called us. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. — 1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)

Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord. Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer.  — Romans 12:11-12 (VOICE) Revelation 3:15-16 (NLT) says, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” May we be hot with passion for God and His Kingdom. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder . — Romans 12:11-12 (MSG)

Then Mary said, “My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior…” — Luke 1:46-47 (NCV) Let us rejoice in God, our Savior. How often? Rejoice always! (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV) In any and every circumstance we can rejoice that our God is a good God. He is loving and He is faithful. God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him. (Luke 1:50 NCV) Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! — Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. — Ephesians 3:17 (NLT) First Corinthians 16:14 (NASB) instructs us to let all that we do be done in love. When we are rooted and grounded in the love of God, we produce the fruit of love. Drawing from the limitless supply of God's love within us, strengthens us and enables us to to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13) Being filled with God's love allows us to be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults... (Ephesians 4:2). So let your love abound still more and more (Philippians 1:9). For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love. (Hebrews 6:10)  It's with unfailing love that God draws us to Him. (Jeremiah 31:3)

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. — Philippians 1:12 (NLT) Just as in the Apostle Paul’s life, everything that has happened to us can serve to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and all that He has done in our lives. No matter what you have gone through, the greatest testimony of God’s faithfulness is that you are still here! He has not allowed the enemy to take you out. Whether it was a fire or a flood, He brought you through it! 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. (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. — 1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV) When we stop to consider what great things the LORD has done for us we are compelled to love and serve Him with all of our hearts. He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. He redeems our lives from the pit, and crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion. He fills our lives with good things. (Psalm 103:3-5) He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; (Psalm 91:3-4 MSG) He chose you and called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Amen and Hallelujah!

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.” — 1 Samuel 12:20-21 (NKJV) When we turn away from following the LORD, to seek something in this world, it is a futile pursuit. Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols (anything we put before God), that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! (1 Samuel 12:21 NLT). In Philippians 3:8 (NLT) the Apostle Paul says, “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.” The Amplified Bible says, it is a priceless privilege and supreme advantage to know Christ Jesus… (Philippians 3:8 AMP). May we chase after God and make developing an in...

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV). We have life and death, blessing and cursing set before us on a daily basis. But like a teacher who gives you the correct answer to the test, God instructs us to “ Choose Life! ” Don’t live by chance or happenstance. The quality of our lives is a matter of choice. Making the right choice is not a one time event. We are faced with choices every moment of the day. Let us continually choose God, His will and His Way. Make wise decisions that lead to life and blessing. So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no...

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” — Revelation 3:15-16 (NKJV) We can fool some of the people some of the time, but we can never pull a fast one on God. He knows everything we do. For the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. (1 Chronicles 28:9b NIV). Serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9a). Lukewarmness comes when our desires are split. We want to walk in God's way and enjoy the benefits of living in His kingdom, but half of the time we take a detour and allow ourselves to get caught up in the world and it's ways. No one can serve two masters; (Matthew 6:24). Don’t leave a bad taste in the mouth of God. Let ALL you do and say give glory to His kingdom. Be on fire for God, consistently doing the right things with pure motives and a clear conscien...

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... — Joshua 24:15 (NIV) Every day we make a decision to follow the LORD, the world, or our flesh. We choose to walk in the love and grace of God, with every action, and reaction. Let’s challenge ourselves to consistently make better choices. As we grow and mature, we can make better choices with the use of our time, our talents and our money. We can make better choices in the attitudes we display and the words we speak. Choose to speak positive, uplifting words of life. Praise God that He will do the amazing, spectacular things He does, but it is always our responsibility to make better choices. Choose wisely!

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 6:1 (NLT) Avoid the trap of being a people-pleaser and doing things for the sake of appearances. Let all that you do, be motivated by the love you have for our heavenly Father and a genuine desire to please Him. Live for an audience of One. ‘So love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ (Mark 12:30 MSG). And serve Him only.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. — Galatians 5:13 (NIV) Once we have been set free, it is our responsibility to make wise choices, to ensure that we live free. Every day we make decisions that lead to life or death. The LORD set before us life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). Choose to love, laugh, and forgive. Choose to be kind and walk in the light of the LORD! Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.  — Galatians 5:1 (MSG)

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” — Romans 15:1 (MSG) Even though our society is concerned about what is convenient, what we learned in school of ministry last night is that any area of strength we have is to be used to serve others. You will find true joy when you keep your eyes on Jesus and Others instead of yourself.

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) Whenever a door of opportunity is wide open, make sure the door was opened by the Lord. If He sets before you an open door, no one can shut it  (Revelation 3:8). Know that any good work you undertake will meet some opposition. Continue to take each step by faith. And stay alert, sin is crouching at your door and it desires to have you. Keep your eyes and heart open for every great and effective door of opportunity to give, to serve, to forgive, to walk in love, to let His light shine through you, etc.

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. — 1 Samuel 12:24 (NKJV) Fear the LORD only. With the LORD on your side, what can man do to you? Let us faithfully serve God with all our hearts. May we be like Jesus, focused on the Father’s business, not giving attention to what others think of us, but fulfilling the mission He has given to us. And always remember what great things the LORD has done for you!

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.” — 1 Samuel 12:20-21 (NKJV) No matter what mistakes you made in the past, confess your sins and move on with the LORD. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). The exact moment you decide to take a detour off of the path the LORD has before you, you have decided to go after empty things. These things will be of no profit to you and they can never deliver you. Worship and serve the LORD with all your heart and soul, and pay no attention to the distractions of the enemy!

“...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28 (NKJV) Jesus was anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (Isaiah 61:1). Our Lord and Savior gave His life to fulfill His mission. What are we willing to give to fulfill the call the Father has placed on our lives? May we model after Jesus and live a life of sacrifice, to serve those whom God has placed in our sphere of influence. We never know whose freedom is tied to our obedience, our willingness to answer the call.