“Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:8. 

It’s a humbling, maybe even humiliating, thing to have someone wash you. 
Nurses know the awkwardness as well as the importance of bathing patients who cannot bathe themselves. 

Sometimes a broken body prevents patients from getting themselves cleaned up.
This is also true in the life of faith. 

Most of us cherish our independence. 
We are doers. We are achievers. 
We resent needing to rely on others for things we think we can do ourselves. 

Yet the truth is that we are broken because of sin. 
The Bible teaches that in order to enter into the fullness of life that God intends for us, we need to be washed clean. 

But we are unable to do that for ourselves.

Peter’s refusal to be washed by Jesus was vehement. 
It could be translated this way: “You will never ever wash my feet—ever!” 

Peter thought he was saying the proper thing. It didn’t feel right for Jesus to be acting as a servant to him. 

How could it be fitting for his Master to descend to such lowliness?
Jesus’ reply to Peter was also vehement. In essence, Jesus said, “If I can’t wash you, you can’t have me.” 

Peter needed to humble himself. He needed to receive the forgiveness of sin that Jesus was offering.

So do we!

So, give in. 
Be washed. 
And receive fullness of life!

“God of grace, wash me clean of all my sins. Help me receive the fullness of life that you offer through Jesus. Amen.”

(PR)

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Two men camping in the forest were enjoying their morning coffee when, all of a sudden, they spotted a very large, hungry grizzly bear running toward them.

One of the men quickly pulled on his running shoes.
“Do you actually think you can outrun that grizzly bear?” his friend asked.
“I don’t need to,” he replied. “All I have to do is outrun you.”

We all have had friends like that, haven’t we?
At the first threat of danger or hardship or difficulty, they desert us.
So what makes for true friendship?

It has been said that a true friend is one who walks in when others walk out.
Thankfully, there have been people in my life who have stood by me and have been honest friends.

But one thing I am confident of, one thing I am sure of, is that I have found a friend in Jesus Christ.

He always has been a true friend.
Jesus Christ offers His friendship to us!

The question is whether we really want to be friends of God.
He cannot merely be our friend without a response on our part.

A friendship, obviously, is made up of two people committing themselves to one another.

I can extend friendship to you, but until you return it to me, I cannot legitimately say that we have a friendship.

Jesus demonstrated His willingness to have a friendship with us by what He did for us.

He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

He showed us how dedicated He was to us when He did just that.

What a Friend we have in Jesus!

(PR)

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Some days everything seems to go wrong!

Every phone call brings bad news. The mails are demanding… The children come home from school with some kind of injury or a bad report. Work is frustrating. Health is disturbing. Friends are leaving… Foes are threatening… What do you do when you have one of these days?

Here’s a man who was fainting and failing. The psalmist! He was like a wineskin in the smoke. Wherever he walked there was a pit for him to drop into. What did he do? He turned to God!

His source of hope was His Word. “My soul faints for Your salvation…For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, yet I do not forget Your statutes…. The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to Your law” (Psalm 119:81-83,85).

He told God!! “My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, ‘When will You comfort me?”

People will fail you, but God never will. The psalmist clung to the comfort, hope and faithfulness of God, and as a result he experienced revival.

“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness” (v 88).

God came with a Breath of fresh, heavenly air –
– the Holy Spirit –
– and revived him.

He trusted in God!!!
“…but I hope in Your word”.

“All Your commandments are faithful” (v 86).

If you hope in circumstances, you will be disappointed, because they change.

The psalmist hoped in the Word and trusted in God’s faithfulness, and God comforted him.

“Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence…” (Proverbs 3:24-25).

Thank God for His faithfulness! If you are having a rough day, remember that you can depend on Him and Him alone!

God is your Confidence! And He will revive you, release you and reward you!

(PR)

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“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). 

Are you gripped with fear about something?
Love is the answer to overcoming your fear!
Because love is the Christian’s security blanket!

When you were a child-
– did you have a teddy bear or a blanket that gave you a sense of security,
– something you wanted to hold close to you and get wrapped up in?

The Holy Spirit of God-
– is the believer’s warm, loving security blanket!

“Perfect love casts out fear!”
But it never rang true to me because I had never done anything perfectly except sin.

God’s perfect love can eliminate all dread.
It is not our love for Him, but His perfect love for us that will cast out our fears.

The question isn’t:
Am I brave enough?

The question is:
Do I trust His love enough?

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

(PR)

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 “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:57). 

Jesus often used the term “Abba” (Daddy, Father) when referring to God.  

But sometimes He used a different Greek term (Pater) that has four meanings:
Nourisher, Protector, Upholder, and Provider.  

When Jesus did this-
He described to us the ideal father! 

Nourisher
That’s one who builds up the family.
It’s one who is fair, loving and encouraging to each family member. 

Protector
Every home wants a father who is strong and loving.
The strength is motivated by love in the face of evil. 

Upholder
The upholder of Godly character and values.
The upholder models this as he teaches. 

Provider
The one that meets the material, educational and physical needs of his family.
It’s the one who is dependable, responsible and trustworthy. 
That’s really what Jesus is teaching us by using the term that He uses for Father.  

He is our nourisher.
He is our protector.
He is our upholder.
He is our provider.  

I don’t know if you have an earthly father like this.
Those of us who do are truly blessed.  

But even if you don’t-
God is eager to have you as one of His adopted children when you accept His Son in faith.  

He is the perfect Dad.
He is our Abba Father! 

(PR)

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How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Ps 139:17)

Consider the character of God’s thoughts in Psalm 139.
God’s thoughts are personal!
“….Your thoughts to me, O God!”

They concern you and me. He makes the individual and then plans for him. He knows all about us. God put your substance together and ordained your genetic structure (v 13,14). We must use what He has given us for His glory. And our obedience to His will reaches beyond this life, for our future is wrapped up in God’s plan for us (Jer 29:11).

God’s thoughts are precious!!
“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!”
Precious means “weighty, valuable.” His thoughts toward us are unique, tailor-made, and that makes them valuable.

When we accept God’s plan for us and exercise believing faith, then He can work out His perfect will in our lives. Remember, His thoughts are deep (Ps 92:5); they are higher than ours (Isa 55:8).

God’s thoughts are plenteous!!!
How great is the “sum of them.”

The Hebrew word for sum is plural. Thus, His thoughts just keep growing. People who don’t want to do the will of God live their lives in a little bucket of water. But when we accept His will for our lives, we launch out on an ocean of possibility. God said to Abraham, “You walk before Me and do My will, and I am going to give you horizons like you’ve never seen before” (Gen 15:5).

God’s thoughts about you are more than mere “thoughts.”
They include His purposes and His care. As you meditate on His thoughts, renew your commitment to know and do His will for your life!

God is thinking about you!

(PR)

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Have you ever tried to run away from God?
Don’t try; it can’t be done!

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

No matter where we go in the will of God, He is there!
Why should we flee from Him?
Why should we try to find height or depth, east or west, darkness or light?

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.” (Vs 11, 12)

Sometimes we’ve found ourselves in dark places and have wondered, “Does God know?”
He indeed knows!

If we sin, we go out into the darkness, but God sees us.
And sometimes when we are walking with the Lord, we still find ourselves in darkness. But that darkness is as light to God.

God is everywhere and sees everything!
Rather than flee from Him, we should flee to Him!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Ps 46:1)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God – neither height nor depth, east nor west, darkness nor light. (Rom 8:38, 39)

God promises to “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
The next time you go through dark days, remember that God knows your problems and needs.

Take refuge in Him; He will see you through!
The night shall be light!

(PR)

The post The Night Shall Be Light appeared first on My Manna.

Have you ever tried to run away from God?
Don’t try; it can’t be done!

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

No matter where we go in the will of God, He is there!
Why should we flee from Him?
Why should we try to find height or depth, east or west, darkness or light?

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.” (Vs 11, 12)

Sometimes we’ve found ourselves in dark places and have wondered, “Does God know?”
He indeed knows!

If we sin, we go out into the darkness, but God sees us.
And sometimes when we are walking with the Lord, we still find ourselves in darkness. But that darkness is as light to God.

God is everywhere and sees everything!
Rather than flee from Him, we should flee to Him!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Ps 46:1)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God – neither height nor depth, east nor west, darkness nor light. (Rom 8:38, 39)

God promises to “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
The next time you go through dark days, remember that God knows your problems and needs.

Take refuge in Him; He will see you through!
The night shall be light!

(PR)

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