Sunday December 22, 2024
Manna / Weekly Manna

Devotions
A Vow Unto the Lord
Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. May Thy rule come into my heart more and more, and Thy will be done in my mortal body. Relying on the assistance of Thy promised grace to help in every time of need, through Jesus Christ our Lord, I register this Vow.

Daily will I remember at the Throne of Heavenly Grace the general interests of the harvest work, and particularly the share which I myself am privileged to enjoy in that work, and the dear co-laborers everywhere.

I vow to still more carefully, if possible, scrutinize my thoughts and words and doings, to the intent that I may be the better enabled to serve Thee, and Thy dear flock.

I vow to Thee that I will be on the alert to resist everything akin to Spiritism and Occultism, and, remembering that there are but the two masters, I shall resist these snares in all reasonable ways as being of the adversary.

I further vow, that with the exceptions below, I will at all times and in all places, conduct myself toward those of the opposite sex in private exactly as I would do with them in public – in the presence of a congregation of the Lord's people.

And, so far as reasonably possible, I will avoid being in the same room with any of the opposite sex alone, unless the door to the room stand wide open.

Exceptions in the case of Brethren – wife, children, mother and natural sisters: in the case of Sisters – husband, children, father and natural brothers.
Exceeding Great & Precious Promise
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12
      This is the promise, the assurance of Scripture. We should not court persecution, but should desire this evidence of our faithfulness, and should wish to be one of the "blessed" ones, of whom the Master speaks in Matt. 5:11 – "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you." R5544,c1,p7


Daily Heavenly Manna (December 22)
If a man therefore purge himself, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
IF any man desire honor from God, let him not fail to seek it in God's appointed way – along the pathway of humility; for the Lord giveth His favors to the humble. If you would be a vessel fit for the Master's use and a vessel of honor, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time. Do not be in a hurry about it either; but whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, beginning and ever continuing to cleanse your earthen vessel, that it may be fit for the Master's use. `Z. '02-319` R3097:5
Weekly Manna (December 19)
Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 1 Kings 20:11
   THE test of endurance is certainly one of the severest tests of faithfulness to which the elect church, the body of Christ, is subjected. It is the test which gauges and registers the strength of every other virtue and grace, and no soldier of the cross will be crowned with the laurels of victory who has not stood this test....In the battle of this day, as in all other battles, the effort of the enemy is to surprise and suddenly attack and overwhelm the Lord's people; and the only preparation, therefore, that can be made for such emergencies is constant vigilance and prayer and the putting on of the whole armor of God – the Truth and the spirit of the Truth. `Z. '94-155` R1656:1