Archived Daily Manna | Rejoice Fellowship | A mission to release people to rejoice in the world.

Dear Friend,

If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning.

Message: “Love” is a translation of the Greek word “agape” (pronounced with three syllables, uh-gahp-ay); but unfortunately, agape cannot be translated into English with very much accuracy. “Love” is about the best we can do. The King James version used “charity” to translate agape, which is closer in some ways. But the strong association of charity with giving money to the needy makes it inaccurate, as well; in fact, earlier in the chapter Paul tells us, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” So 1 Corinthians itself tells us that agape is something more than “charity” as we generally use the word today. So what, exactly, does “love” mean in this context? It is an important question, for Paul calls it the greatest of all Christian virtues, and John goes so far as to say, “God is love.” If you read through the entire chapter, Paul actually defines it, in great part. It includes patience towards others, kindness, and a lack of superior feelings or boasting — humility, in other words, in both thought and actions. Since it is “never rude,” it is polite. Since it “never insists on its own way,” it is accommodating. It isn’t irritable. It isn’t resentful, which is a big one, for we can form resentments in myriad ways. It never rejoices at wrongdoing. So when we find ourselves thinking or says, “it serves the son-of-a-***** right” or “he had that coming,” it should give us pause. This might be something all of us need to work on. None of us is perfect, but Paul’s eloquent statement of the importance of Christian love is a goal which we must constantly keep in mind and work toward, every day.

Meditation :

Prayer : The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make me perfect in every good work to do your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.....Amen.