Daily Manna

Comfort In Trials
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Text: 1 Peter 1:6-12

Key Verse
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Message
John Stevens was a faithful preacher in the 20th Century England. He decided to join the British Army and serve his country during World War I in 1914. John’s faith was put to the ultimate test as he endured the horrors of war, witnessing unspeakable suffering and loss. Despite the chaos surrounding him, he clung to his faith, finding solace in prayer and Scripture. He was captured and imprisoned in a German Prisoner of War (POW) camp. John spent hours in prayer, pouring out his heart and seeking God’s guidance. He also shared the message of hope with his fellow prisoners, leading Bible studies and offering words of encouragement. Then, in 1918, the war finally ended, and John was liberated from captivity. He was reunited with his family and congregation. Though he bore the physical scars of his ordeal, his spirit remained unbroken. John must have been greatly influenced by the message in our passage today.

Today, we are served with a message of hope and comfort to believers who are facing the challenges of life, hardships, and suffering across the world. The passage compares the trial of faith to the refining of gold through fire, emphasising the preciousness of faith that endures trials. The purification and strengthening of our faith through challenges will ultimately lead to praise, honour, and glory at the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

As we confront the challenges of our present world, we must continue to draw inspiration from the Scripture and understand that our faith in the Lord will be tried and tested. Happily, we have the assurance of triumphing in all these trials and vicissitudes of life as our confidence is rooted in real salvation and the power of unfailing Scripture.

We must therefore persevere through trials, hold our faith as a precious gift, fight the good fight of faith, and look forward to the ultimate salvation of our souls through Christ.

Thought for the day
The hottest furnace cannot alarm a true Christian as long as Christ is there with him.

Bible in one year
1 SAMUEL 1 – 2

Daily Manna - Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Cleaning Up Crete
Text: Titus 1:11-16

Key Verse
“Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake” (Titus 1:11).

Message
Crete, one of the largest islands in ancient Greece, was engulfed in unhealthy mythological beliefs despite the presence of the church founded by Apostle Paul, by the grace of God. The citizens accepted doctrines that promoted polytheist cultures against the Christian teaching that there was only one God. Moral decline followed. The Cretans became “abominable, and disobedient, unto every good work reprobate.” Finally, Crete became proverbial for immorality in that age. Its glory was drifting.

A spiritually fortified personality mentored by Paul was needed to take up the challenge of pastoring the Cretan congregation and restoring Kingdom sanctity and sanity. Titus, a diligent Greek follower of Jesus, fitted this description. The uncompromising apostle could count on him to deliver. He was Paul’s “own son” in the Lord. He had given a good account of himself as a faithful servant in the mission works he had undertaken for the Church as required by Paul. He possessed the bishopric qualities: born again, blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, apt to teach, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Dealing with critical concerns in the house of God, as witnessed in the Cretan assembly, must not suffer delay or sentimentality. Nor should the situation be handled with kid gloves. It should attract the attention of all: the shepherd, his co-ministers, the workers, and the Christian congregation, and in line with God’s desire that we seek the lost and bring them back to the fold.

All hands should be on deck to also clean up false teachings and practices that have infiltrated the Church of God. What we are seeing is not different from the apostasy Paul instructed Titus to address. It would take consecrated, committed, and courageous Christians to preach the undiluted doctrines of Christ, warn the erring ones of the judgment that awaits them if they do not abandon their unscriptural way of life. Lukewarm and indifferent believers should be alerted that they will be similarly judged if they do not return to their first love.

Thought for the day
False teachings destroy the permissive.

Bible in one year
2 COR. 1 - 4

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Are You Qualified?

Text: Titus 1:6-10
Key Verse
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre” (Titus 1:7).

Message
In an online material titled “Leading with Faith and Perseverance,” the story of James Hudson Taylor who lived between 1832 and 1905 and worked as a missionary to China demonstrates the qualities that make a minister of God stand out as a true servant of God. Hudson Taylor was a British missionary who founded the China Inland Mission (now OMF International) in 1865. Taylor’s leadership was characterized by his deep faith, innovative methods, and cultural sensitivity. He adopted Chinese dress and customs to better connect with the people he served. Despite facing numerous challenges, including illness, financial difficulties, and opposition, Taylor persevered. His leadership led to the establishment of hundreds of churches and the spread of the gospel throughout China. Taylor’s story emphasizes the importance of selflessness, submission to the will of God, prayerfulness, faith, cultural sensitivity, and perseverance in Christian leadership.

Given the challenges and heavy responsibilities that are attached to leadership in the house of God, Apostle Paul through the Spirit of God, emphasises the need for well-qualified and mature Christians to occupy ministerial leadership. Such must have a sound moral character, which should be clear evidence of his genuine relationship with Christ, must also have his temper and appetite under his control and must not be greedy or covetous. An effective and spiritually sound leader must possess the knowledge and ability to effectively teach the word of God and demonstrate a loving lifestyle and hospitable disposition. These are the true selfless shepherds Christ Himself recommends and will commend now and on the last day.

Sadly today, many assemblies now parade self-styled church leaders who are more interested in their own personal and selfish benefits (Philippians 3:19). Many are novices and neophytes who lack the basic knowledge of sound doctrines and have no conviction or spiritual backbone to stand and defend the truth. Are you a leader over God’s people? Do you possess all the requisite qualities to become approved of God and an able minister of the gospel?

Thought for the day
God can use anybody but most often He doesn’t use just anybody.

Bible in one year
1 COR. 15 – 16

DAILY MANNA - Monday, May 12, 2025

TOPIC: Are You Offering Your Best?
TEXT: Titus 1:1-5

Key Verse
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5).

Message
A ranking military officer interviewed a man who later became the president of his country. He was asked if he did well as a student in the Naval Academy. Proudly, the young man said he stood 59th out of a class of 820. He expected to be congratulated. But the military chief asked, “Did you do your best?” After some hesitation, he answered: “No, sir, I didn’t always do my best.” Then, the question that ended the session was: “Why didn’t you do your best?” He did not answer. It dawned on him that not doing the best is not the best thing.

Titus had exceptional credentials that led the Holy Spirit to move Apostle Paul to ordain him the bishop of Crete, where he was to continue what Paul had started in the church. Titus was to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city…” These were enormous assignments in a land of “liars… (posing) foolish questions and genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law.” Titus must have done his best to be entrusted with these tasks in the ministry.

Great things in life cannot be attained by mediocre performance. Half measures do not lead to remarkable accomplishments; only masterly feats achieve masteries. Those who hit the gold medal in the Olympics and other globally recognised competitions are known for putting up excellent performance: no average act, no middling effort. It is a total departure from the beaten track to make the best and secure 100% success.

This is the best God expects from those in His vineyard. At the end of each day, we must ask ourselves: Did I do my best for God? Did I also do my best for my fellow humans? Have I pleased the Lord in all my activities? These are the questions we need to address now because they will come up when we stand before Christ’s judgment seat for assessment and rewards. If we cannot answer “yes,” the question will be, “why not?”

Thought for the day
Only self-weight-watchers are pleased to be weighed and found wanting!

Bible in one year
1 COR. 12 - 14