Manna for Your Morning

Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. — John 2:7 (NKJV) Jesus told the servants at this wedding to fill the waterpots with water because they ran out of wine. The servants didn’t know what was happening, they simply followed the instructions of Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” (John 2:8). The Master of feast declared that it was not just wine, but good wine! As we faithfully fill our waterpots, cups, jars or containers, with the living water, Jesus will provide whatever we lack: peace, joy, love, strength, wisdom, etc. Let us fill our hearts and minds with the Living Word and our mouths with His praises and thanksgiving. He will fill in the gaps and our lives will be better and more fulfilled than ever. We may not always understand what is happening, but we know that He is working for our good.

“There is the sound of war in the camp.” — Exodus 32:17 (NIV) Wake up! We are in a war. Every day we are in the midst of a battle. In Revelation 12:17, the devil declared war with the woman and the rest of her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Let us be good soldiers. Good soldiers stay focused on the mission of the Commanding Officer. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4). Good soldiers do not quit in the middle of the battle. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Get your boots on the ground and stay engaged in the good fight of faith. The PRICE is the war that must be fought, but the PRIZE is the wedding to come (Revelation 21:1-4). March on good soldiers, with your eyes on the prize!

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.  — Matthew 22:1-3 (NKJV) Our natural instinct is to pick up the phone when it rings. However, our heavenly Father has sent out a call to each and every person. Yet so many just let the phone ring. They refuse to answer the call God has placed on their lives. They hear the phone ringing, but they get distracted with other things, things that have no eternal value. Matthew 22:5 says, those who heard the invitation, made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. In the words of Pastor Matthew Pollock, this is indeed a major biblical tragedy. Today, people neglect the call of God to do their own thing. Let there be no more excuses, nor delays - answer the call!

“When the end comes, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids. They took their oil lamps and went to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.” — Matthew 25:1-2 (GW) The five foolish bridesmaids didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, their lamps started going out. While the foolish bridesmaids were buying more oil, the groom arrived. The wise bridesmaids who were ready went with him into the wedding hall, and the door was shut. Let us be like the wise bridesmaids and be prepared to keep our lamps and hearts burning for the Lord! And stay alert because we don't know the day or the hour the Son of Man will come (Matthew 25:13).