*DAILY MANNA* *WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 2019* *COMFORT IN HIS WORD* *TEXT:* ROMANS 15:1-13.

*DAILY MANNA*

*WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 2019*

*COMFORT IN HIS WORD*

*TEXT:* ROMANS 15:1-13.

_*🔑KEY VERSE* "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (ROMANS 15:4)._

Apostle Paul, by the enlightening Spirit of God, told the Roman Christians that what had been delivered to them in the past ages had a purpose. It was not for intellectual study to take examinations as secular scholars did. It was also not for priests only to memorise for use in officiating. The books of the law and the prophets have more noble use in the life of the believer. While the Apostle exhorted the Romans to help the weak and refrain from selfish pursuits, as taught and practiced by Christ, he also disclosed a more challenging aspect of the word of God.

The Word was meant to be experienced in unfolding phases. First, it was intended that we should learn it. Next, as we absorb its teachings without adding or subtracting, we rest on God's grace to patiently wait for the fulfillment of divine promises. The epistle says the result of this would be patience and comfort of the Scriptures giving us hope.

Unlike the Christians of Paul's day who had only the Old Testament Scriptures, we, of the end time, have been kitted with a double portion of the word of God, the Old and the New Testaments. If the old gave birth to spiritual warfare generals like Moses, Joshua, Ruth, Deborah, David, Elijah and others who were comforted by the Scriptures, then our age, which possess more spiritual resources through Emmanuel should have more faith in the Lord. The totality of the word of God from Genesis to Revelation should assure us of the imminent return of the Son of God and give us hope of eternally living with Him in heaven.

Therefore, read the word and approach it not just for knowledge and purpose of ministry but as a source of comfort, solace, encouragement and hope in the midst of this trouble-filled world. His word is for your comfort.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* Experience the comforting strength of the Word; read it daily.

*COVER TO COVER* EZEKIEL 32-35.

*MEDITATION*

True love is not self centred but others centred

*1. The evidence of love*
a. True love understands and bears with the weakness, ignorance and the frailty of others without hindering the flow of love. "Love forbear all things" v1 I Corinthians 13:7.
*Check* How much love do you have for your spouse, neighbour and brother/sister?
*Lord*, I ask for more of your grace to be forbearing and enduring others like Christ🙏.
b. True love consciously think, concentrate and do things that will please others and edify them vv1,2.
c. True love is sacrificially not self centred like Christ v3.
*Lord*, give my mind and will a new orientation to be others' centred and not self centred🙏
d. Love is patient with others. Whosoever will walk with God must learn to be patient because He is God of patience vv4,5.
*Lord*, I ask for greater measure of patience in my life🙏
e. There is cooperation and unity in love v6. God is glorified when love is reigning in a family or among brethren.
*Lord*, let all tendencies to be disunited with brethren and neighbours be removed out of my life🙏🤝.
*I ask* that the spirit of disunity be destroyed among the brethren and families in the church.🙏
f. There is comforting in true love v4.

*2. The equality of God's for the Gentiles* vv8-12.
a. It was never designed that the Gentiles will have restricted access and relationship with God.
b. God loves the Jews and the Gentiles equally.
c. The conditions for the salvation of the Jews is the same with that of the Gentiles and that is by trusting in Christ v12.
d. True love is impartial and does not discriminate among brethren vv10,12.
*Ask* for more of God's kind of love in your heart🙏

*3. Want abundance of joy of the Lord (not just happiness), peace and hope?* v13
Simple. Through believing in Christ and His word.

*HYMN* Somebody needs your love

1. Out in the darkness of sorrow and sin,
Somebody needs your love;
Led by the Master, that soul you may win,
Somebody needs your love.
*Chorus*
Somebody needs your love,
Somebody needs your love,…
Someone in sadness,
Yearning for gladness,
Somebody needs your love.

2. Many are helpless, and wait for your call,
Somebody needs your love;
Show them that Jesus is all and in all,
Somebody needs your love.

3. Some one is tempted to turn from the right,
Somebody needs your love;
Longing for courage and strength for the fight,
Somebody needs your love.

4. Some are down-hearted, in sorrow they roam,
Somebody needs your love;
Many are sighing for heaven and home,
Somebody needs your love.