Manna for Your Morning

In response to the question, “ And who is my neighbor? ” Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan. A man was traveling, and fell among robbers. They took his clothes, beat him, and left him half-dead. A priest was on his way down the same road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (See Luke 10:29-32) But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to...

But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us. We saw his suffering and thought God was punishing him.  But he was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds. — Isaiah 53:4-5 (NCV) Jesus carried our pains. He was crushed for our sins and wrongdoing. He was pierced for our rebellion. Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. (Galatians 3:13a NLT) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1 NKJV) We have been rescued from sin and death. Let us walk according to the Spirit and live well and healed.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” — Mark 4:37-38 (NKJV) Jesus loved us so much, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. (Philippians 2:7 NLT). He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The punishment required for our well-being fell on Him… (Isaiah 53:5). The Message Bible says, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (Philippians 2:8). He did it all for you. Have no doubt. JESUS CARES about you. No matter what storms come, He is in your boat and He is not asleep. … casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV)

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. — Luke 10:30-33 (NKJV) The Samaritan bandaged up this man's wounds, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. In the busyness of our lives, how many people, left half dead on the road of life, do we pass by? May we take our eyes off ourselves long enough to see the wounded people all around us, those who are hanging on by a thread. May our hands reach out to help those in need. Let us bandage up the wounds they have suffered on the battlefield of life and build them up with encouraging wor...

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. — John 19:30 (NAS) When Jesus gave up His spirit, on the cross, it was a complete work. He paid the debt for all our sins, past, present and future. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5, NKJV). Let us walk in the freedom and victory that Jesus established for us.