REIGNING PURITY...:

God's holiness is connected with God's reigning or ruling. It is very interesting to note that a number of psalms which start with "The Lord reigneth", end with 'holiness.' What we learn from this is that, God wants holiness to rule in our lives so that He may reign or rule over us. The holy God may not be able to rule over those who do not love His holiness.

Rulers or leaders should be those in whom the Lord reigns in holiness. Leaders in the church who do not love holiness do not have the moral or spiritual right to rule over others. He that hath no rule over his spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. A city whose wall is broken down is always vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

Dear child of God, are you like a city without walls? The devil and his agents are playing havoc in your life then. Perhaps the reason for some of your major problems is that, you have not let the Lord or His holiness rule over you.

Let the government of your life be "upon His shoulder"; then, of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end". In other words, as God rules in your life with His holiness, He will rule over all the powers of darkness in your life, bringing triumph in all your trials. Let purity crown your spiritual life.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

LIVELY HOPE OR DEAD HOPE?

"Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which... hath begoten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead" (I Pet 1:3).

Here St.Peter speaks about a lively or living hope. There are two types of hope - living hope and dead hope.

If you want to become rich, great or famous in this world, yours is a dead hope; all the hopes that you build up to become great will come to an end with your death.

What is the lively hope we get by the resurrection of Jesus Christ? "If Jesus comes when I am alive, by the grace of God I shall be changed or transformed!" Even in the matter of getting caught up at the Rapture, some people have a dead hope. They think they can never be ready if Jesus comes in their lifetime. Their miserable hope is that they must lie in the sickbed and get sanctified and die if they are to be caught up when Jesus comes. This certainly is a dead hope. Look at what St.Paul says: 'We which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord... shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air' ( I Thess 4:15, 17). In other words, we who remain on earth and are lively i.e. those of us who live with the hope of translation or transformation will meet the Lord in the air.

Dear child of God, what type of hope do you have? Is it a lively hope or a dead hope?

"The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope" (Tit 2:11-13). When the grace of God fills our life, we will have a lively hope. And only those who have a lively hope can be lively Christians.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

SEEK HIM...:

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6).

Faith pleases God. Great faith pleases God greatly. Faith is trusting God and acting on His Word. If we don't have faith, fear will destroy all our blessings.

"He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Please note, He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, not His blessings. This is where many people of God make a mistake. Instead of seeking the Giver of all blessings, many seek blessings. If you seek only God's blessings, remember, one day all His blessings - your health and wealth, your dear ones and friends - may be removed from you then your fragile faith will fail you. Look at Job. He lost his wealth, his children and even his health, but his faith abounded all the more. His faith became so strong that he was able to shout with a note of victory - "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me" (Job 19:25-27).

Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

A MAN OF REVELATION..!

"Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground" (Gen 4:2).

"Abel was a keeper of sheep." The first job man ever chose was the best job - keeping sheep, which typifies looking after souls. We need the heart of a shepherd; we must have a burden, concern and care for others, for perishing souls, and for those in need. In particular, a servant of God must diligently watch over the souls entrusted to him. Later on we find that God had respect unto Abel and to his ministry or offering. So also, those who serve Jesus willingly will be honoured by the Father.

"But Cain was a tiller of the ground." The profession that Abel chose is stated first - as his service was more pleasing to God. While Abel was serving the sheep, Cain was serving the ground that was cursed by God. Cain clearly did not have the kind of heart God wanted - a heart of concern for others. Later, when God asked him, 'Where is your brother?' 'Am I my brother's keeper?' he retorted.

Abel was a man of revelation. The job he selected, doubtless, was inspired by God; and so was his offering. Abel brought "of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" (vs 4). The "firstlings of his flock" are, the best out of the flock. The "fat", in Hebrew, means the best part. So Abel offered the best of bests, and therefore his offering was honoured as, "a more excellent sacrifice". By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice, says the writer to the Hebrews. Faith gives new revelations and excellent faith gives excellent revelations.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

JESUS IS COMING...!

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly" (Rev 22:20).

This last testimony, last promise, and last prayer in the Bible is connected with the Coming of the Lord. And yet, most Christians only believe that Jesus may come some day, and not 'quickly'. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Lord's Word shall never pass away without fulfilment. Our Lord knew that many are going to doubt and despise this most blessed promise, "I come quickly." So for such doubters, He has deliberately said, "SURELY I come quickly." God's Word is very sure, and yet, 'SURELY' is added.

How sad that, despite this, people still doubt to their own destruction! Look at the warning the Lord is giving to such doubters: "If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" (Matt 24:48-51). If he who thinks that the Lord will delay His Coming is called an evil servant, and is cut into pieces and thrown into the place meant for hypocrites to howl and cry eternally, how much greater a punishment will come upon the one who says that the Lord will delay His Coming!

Dear reader, believe His promise, "Surely I come quickly." Maybe today, maybe even this moment, the Lord will come.

"Are you watching, are you waiting,

In the raiment pure and white?

Would you join at His appearing,

If our Lord should come to-night?"

Only those who are 'ardently' waiting for His appearing, those who love His appearing, those who are filled with the hope of His Coming, will keep purifying themselves even as He is pure, and live in readiness for His Coming. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him... Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as He is pure" (I Jn 3:2,3).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

PRIDE CAN RUIN YOU...!

Josiah was a God-fearing king. In the eighth year of his reign, when he was still young, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places and the groves and the carved images and the molten images (II Chron 34:3). He did many more things to please God - he removed all the heathen altars and images and broke them down; he repaired the temple, encouraged the servants of God, etc. And the passover feast that he celebrated was unparalleled (II Chron 35:18). There are many other good things to say about Josiah. In fact, long before Josiah was born, a prophet of God prophesied about the great things this king would do for the glory of God.

However, such a saintly king became proud! When the king of Egypt, Necho, was going to fight with Carchemish, Josiah set out to fight against Necho. Necho sent word to say, "God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, Who is with me, that He destroy thee not" (vs 21). When we fight and quarrel, what we are really doing is, fighting with God. The Egyptian king made it clear that he was going to battle as guided by God, but nothing seemed to restrain Josiah's proud and haughty spirit. He imagined he was going to show Necho how great he was. "And the archers shot at king Josiah... his servants therefore... brought him to Jerusalem and he died" (vs 23,24).

Let us turn to our God with all our heart and examine ourselves and see whether this foul spirit called pride is hidden in our life. It is rather frightening, and yet true, that although we may have many good qualities, if we let pride get into our life, we can end our life in disgrace - as if we had no divine virtues at all.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

BLESSING IN EMPTYING OURSELVES

There were saints in the Old Testament period also who emptied themselves of their cherished belongings and gave those whom they loved dearly.

Abraham was called upon to consecrate his home, his country and his relatives, and sometime later, to consecrate his beloved son Isaac also. He obeyed God and became a blessing to many. Joseph had to give up his beloved father, his home, and his country, and finally he lost even his good name. As the Lord wants to give all of Himself to us forever, He may test us by taking away the things or people we cherish, at least for some time. When He does, will it affect our close walk with God? Will it drive us to despair?

Our emptying or consecrating ourselves benefits us and in turn, we also become a blessing to many. "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (II Cor 8:9). When we become poor by consecration, we make others rich, that is, rich in faith, grace and in many other blessings. It is no wonder then that Jesus said that if any man wanted to serve Him, he should hate and forsake his all (Lk 14:26,27,33).

In these last days the Lord is calling many to leave their all and follow Him - so that He may use them to richly bless others. Child of God, can you hear the voice of the Lord? Will you say, "Here am I, Lord! Use me."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

WHAT IS TRUE BLESSEDNESS..?

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways" (Psa 128:1).

Moffat's Bible renders 'walketh in His ways' as 'liveth His life.' Those who live the life of God or, those who live near to God are the truly blessed people. True blessedness is nearness to God. In the sight of God, a blessed man is not one who is rich, famous, educated, talented, healthy etc. but one who lives close to Him - though perhaps not having riches or other material possessions.

A blessed marriage does not mean that the couple is well placed in society having a big mansion, wealth, health etc. To have a blessed married life the couple has to live close to God despite the problems they face in life.

A blessed life (long or short) is one that is lived close to God. Your life's problems can either bring you close to God or take you far away from God - it all depends on your attitude towards the problems.

Two thieves were crucified with Christ. Both were thieves, and both saw Jesus in the same way - hanging with them on the cross, and both heard the words of Jesus. However, the penitent thief went to paradise to be close to Jesus for ever and the other went to tormenting hell to be far away from Jesus for ever.

Dear reader, today and every day will be a blessed day for you, provided whatever happens that day brings you close to God. In the same way, every problem in your life will be a blessing to you, provided you take those problems as a means to bring you close to God.

"He exalteth the horn of his people, even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him" (Psa 148:14).

- Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

"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" (I Pet 1:7).

The trial of faith will bring praise, honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. James says that when we face a trial of faith we must "count it all joy." My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (Jms 1:2,3). When our faith is being put to test, as we stand for the truth, persecutions, humiliations, etc. may come, but the Lord wants us to rejoice while going through the trial as it finally brings praise, honour and glory when He comes.

"O for a faith that will not shrink

Though pressed by every foe,

That will not tremble on the brink

Of any earthy woe."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. It was a trial of faith, and at the end, as they came out in flying colours, God's name was indeed praised, honoured and glorified by the very king who had tried to destroy them. So it was in Daniel's case too - when he was thrown in the den of lions. It's upto us. If we want our faith to be found unto praise, honour and glory we must endure, we must set our face like a flint. Remember, your faith is more precious than gold, and so are you!

"In each trial God would prove you

He would bring you forth more bright,

But He'll never cease to love you -

You are precious in His sight."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

WHEREFORE BELOVED, BE DILIGENT

"My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (I Cor 15:58).

The Lord God had put the man into the garden of Eden to dress and to keep it (Gen 2:15). The woman should have been 'a help-mate' for Adam in this work. As she neglected her responsibility towards Adam, the devil lost no time in making use of her negligence to duty, to make her busy in his own pernicious plans. True, the mind (and also the body) is the devil's workshop. If we are not busy in God's business, we will be busy in the devil's business. "At the time when kings go forth to battle... David tarried still at Jerusalem" (II Sam 11:1). This utter negligence to his duty soon made David an adulterer and murderer, the stain of which sin clings to him eternally ( Read II Samuel 11th Chapter).

Let us labour with Jesus in His garden, the Church. The devil will come after us only if we are slothful in labouring or suffering in the Church. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet 5:8). "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (I Pet 4:1).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

WEEPING - NOT A WEAKNESS

"Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep" (I Sam 30:4).

When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had invaded it and taken away captive their women, children, cattle and everything worth carrying away, and burnt the city with fire (vs 3). They lost everything they had on this earth; all they could do was to lift up their voice and cry "until they had no more power to weep."

Some people think weeping is a human weakness. Whatever the interpretation given by the people of this world, weeping in the presence of God is one of our mightiest weapons.

David wept in the presence of God and was therefore able to encourage, himself in the Lord his God (vs 6). Then, David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away... And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything that they had taken to them" (vs 18,19). Yes, this is what happens when we learn to pour our heart before God, and cry with all sincerity. Our God is able to restore to us all that the Amalekites (a type of our carnal nature) have taken away - not partly, but wholly. It is amazing to see that David was not only able to get back all that they had lost, but was also able to get "the spoil of the enemies of the Lord" of which he could send presents to his friends (vs 26)!

Dear child of God, are you going through a "Ziklag" experience now? Do you feel you have lost your prayer life, your holiness, your close walk with God, your first love, peace with God, and your earlier zeal for God? Do you feel your fleshly nature has devastated your spiritual life? You do not need to be discouraged. All you need to do is to lift up your heart and cry to God with all your strength. You can rest assured that the Lord will restore all that you have lost. In addition, God is able to give you a "spoil" - blessings you had not experienced before - so that you may be a blessing to others and share with them the goodness of God.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

EXPRESS IMAGE..:

"Who (Christ) being the brightness of His (Father's) glory, and the express image of His person" (Heb 1:3).

Christ was the express image of the Father. Here, the image of the Father does not mean the figure or the form of the Father but rather, the charadter of the Father.

Christ showed to us the very perfect character of the Father while He was on earth. Similarly, the Lord wants us too to show the express image of Christ, His very character to this unbelieving and crooked world. In one sense, we have the same mission as that of Christ. He came to show the perfecte character of the Father to the world; so also, the Lord has kept us on the earth to reveal to the world the very character of Christ. If we do so we also will become "the brightness of His glory"; by revealing the very character of Christ we will be shining brightly with His glory in this dark world.

Like Philip who asked Jesus, "Lord, shew us the Father," many in the world are going about trying to get a knowledge of God. Is our life giving them an answer similar to the one Jesus gave Philip: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father"? Are we revealing such a Christlikeness to those around us?

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

YOU ARE CALLED FOR HEAVEN...!

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Tit 1:2).

For whom is the promise of eternal life? It has been promised to every human being before the world began; no one is predestinated for hell-fire. If God had predestinated only some people for heaven, He could have sent His only begotten Son to die only for those people. But it says, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn 3:16). Please note the words "whosoever believeth". The Lord wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim 2:4).

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). Jesus did not say, "Come unto Me, all you who are predestinated for heaven." Then again we see Him inviting, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink" (Jn 7:37). "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out," He says (Jn 6:37).

Dear reader, if you ever thought you were destined by God for hell-fire, it was a trap of the devil. Jesus died for the salvation of everyone. You are called for heaven. Therefore believe the Word and dedicate yourself to live for Jesus. Hurry, for, you may be delaying the Coming of the Lord. For, "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise... but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Pet 3:9).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

A RAINBOW FOR YOU...!

"I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth... and I will remember My covenant" (Gen 9:13,15).

God knew that the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. But God was pleased with the sweet-smelling savour of Noah's offering and He made a covenant with man not to curse the earth any more, and gave him a sign of His covenant, that is, the rainbow. When dark clouds of trials and temptations rise in our lives, we can look to the cross where the Lord has made a covenant of safety with us. If you look at your trial you'll be discouraged; if you look at the cross you can press on cheerily no matter how threatening the trial.

A covenant is always two-sided i.e., two parties are equally responsible in adhering to the conditions. God remembers His covenant when the clouds arise in the horizon. We are also expected to remember our covenants with God when clouds arise, i.e. when troubles arise in our lives. Many remember their covenant with the Lord only when everything is going on well in their lives. When unexpected, baffling difficulties confrot them, they lose the vision of the corss - they forget their covenant with God; they forget God's covenant with them.

When John the Baptist was eating the sweet wild honey and the delicious locusts, he was very boldly declaring, "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." But when he was imprisoned and fed with the bread of sorrows and water of affliction he doubted the very lordship of Jesus. If Jesus was the Messiah or the King of the Jews, why did he, John, have to suffer in prison, he being the forerunner of Christ? There are many John the Baptists even today. When everything is alright we can see them in the meetings, boldly testifying about Christ. But when they are imprisoned with weakness and privations, they doubt the all-sufficient, all surpassing grace flowing from Calvary.

Child of God, what are you looking at - the dark clouds or the rainbow?

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

DEEP SLEEP...!

Like a mother, God gave Adam a deep sleep when he had completed the great work of naming every living creature. Our God is able to help us rest in Him once we complete the great work He has begun in our life. God CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP. Oh, what a sound sleep it must have been! "He giveth His beloved sleep." Indeed He is still "El-shaddai", the mother-like God!

He 'took one of his ribs' and 'made He a woman'. The removing of this rib in the process of making a bride was not at all painful to Adam; it could have been agonizing and disturbing had he not been resting in deep sleep. Making a Bride for Christ is the work of God and He will do it faithfully and in the best way if we have learned to rest in God.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt 11:28,29).

Let us learn to rest in God. Even today, as we labour for God, our God is more concerned than we are about our rest.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

THE WORST PERSON ON EARTH

The worst person on earth is not a murderer or adulterer, but one who had a good chance to serve God, and didn't. Judas Isacariot was one such person. The Lord said of him, "It would have been better if he hadn't been born!" Is the Lord saying of you, "I called him to serve Me. I gave him a great and high calling, but he messed up his life. He doesn't want to serve Me"? Today you can repent and return to the Lord.

Do you know what the worst type of fear is? The fear to do the will of God. In Revelation 21:8 we read of a group of people going to the Lake of Fire. The first among them are the fearful. The fear they had is the fear to do the will of God. Some are afraid to give their heart to Jesus. Some know about water baptism but are afraid to obey. Some have a clear calling to serve God but they hesitate in fear. "Will I be able to continue till the end?" they query, "Will I be able to continue till the end?" they query, "I know it is the will of God for me. But I am afraid of the suffereings involved.

Dear child of God, let's suppose your father owns the biggest company in the world. If he calls you to come and work in it, will you hesitate to resign your old job and join the company? Will you say, "I must consult my friends"? Will you be afraid your father may suddenly fire you. Child of God, you cannot find a better employer than Jesus. He is gracious and good and full of kindness and compassion.

So, if God has given you a calling, to serve Him don't let it slip. If the Lord is saying to you "Launch out into the deep" or "Come ye apart into the desert place," do not hesitate. He'll give you the grace to live that higher life. Your Heavenly Father is holding you in the hollow of His hands. His Hands are so wide that all the water in the ocean can be held in them. How can you fall then? Even if you were to fall, it is into His Hands that you will fall. If you are exhausted and faint, you will only fall in the Hands of the Lord. The only way you can really fall is by running away from God. So rebuke that spirit of fear and come into the centre of God's will.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

CLEANSING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS...!

The blood of Jesus Christ is incorruptible. It is the blood of God, the eternal God. See Acts 20:28. True, our God is a Spirit and in a spirit there is no flesh and blood; but thank God, God became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14).

In the Old Testament period sins were only covered (Psa 32:1). From Hebrews Chapter 9 we understand that the corruptible blood of bulls and of goats could not purge the conscience. The conscience can be washed only by the precious blood of Jesus. As Jesus offered His precious blood through the Holy Spirit or through the eternal Spirit, God the Father accepted that blood, and hence there is wonderful power in the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Chirst, which is the blood of the eternal God was offered through the eternal Spirit. So the blood of Christ has eternal efficacy, and it has eternal blessings. Its power is eternal. 'Eternal' means having no beginning or end. There is no change in the blood of Jesus - in its power, in its character or in its efficacy; there is no decay or corruption - it never grows old; it's always new.

Dear reader, the incorruptible blood of Jesus is able to cleanse your conscience eternally. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin' (I Jn 1:7).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

MAKE ME TO GO

How many times the Lord knowing our weaknesses, delivered us from tempting situations! The Lord never fails us or forsakes us in our utterly foolish and impetuous ways, but protects and preserves us. How much we ought to thank Him!

Peter was also a symbol of self-confidence and stubbornness. When Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane, He warned Peter that Satan was planning to destroy him. He showed him that he was very weak in faith and that he needed a real conversion.

Peter mistook his desire to follow Jesus for ability to follow Him. Many of us make the same mistake. We don't realize we are acting in self-confidence. When anyone feels he is ready (or able) to do anything for the Lord he is, in fact, least ready.

Dear child of God, you cannot do anything with your own trying or striving. So humbly ask the Lord to teach you, lead you, guide you. Yes, tell Him, "Lord, make me to go in the path of Thy commandments."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

LOSS OF ALL THINGS

"Ye... took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb 10:34)

Once a Chinese missionary lost all his life's precious things while travelling in a train - his long-used Bible, his book of favourite hymns collected over the years, a diary eith the addresses of all his friends and all the notes of his messages. He was depressed. Then the Lord spoke to him. "My son, you lost your Bible but not the Author of the Bible; you lost the song book but not the songs I gave you in your heart. True, you lost your message notes but you didn't lose your actual message which is Myself (Christ). You lost your diary with the addresses of all your friends but you've not lost your friends." On hearing this, the missionary was greatly encouraged and started rejoicing.

Dear friend, perhaps you have recently lost your money, house, property, job, or something that was precious to you. Remember, you have not lost your God, the Author and Owner of all spiritual and material blessings. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (IIPeter 1:3)

When Job lost all his material blessings, his physical health and even his children, he clung tenaciously to his God - though even his wife suggested he give up the Lord. Eventually he came to know his God more intimately. "I have heard thee with the hearing of the ear. Now my eye seeth Thee," he says. He was also doubly blessed and became a wonderful witness for the Lord.

Let not the loss of earthly things upset us or make us doubt the goodness and faithfulness of our God.

- Late Pastor T.U. Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY...:

"God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply" (Gen 1:22).

This is the first blessing recorded in the Word of God - the blessing to be fruitful and to multiply. We should be fruitful in character and also multiply in number. Both these aspects of our life are balanced and go hand in hand. The second mention of "God blessed them" (Gen 1:28) also indicates the same truth.

There is no us in saying, "I am a great saint," if you have no passion for saving perishing souls and multiplying souls for the kingdom of God. And, there isn't any use in winning souls if you are not fruitful in divine character.

The Lord does not want us to have a barren experience in our spiritual life. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, and He tells us, "Be fruitful and multiply!" Let us be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, and let us help others also to grow in these divine natures.

We read that Joseph was a "fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall." Our branches must run over the wall - to feed the hungry and the hungering that are around us.

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

'FOR A SEASON'

"Perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever" (Philem 15).

Although the context here is different, it is applicable to the dear ones who have departed from this earthly abode and gone to their heavenly mansions. In a true sense, they "departed for a season"; we are going to miss them only for a short time. "Death is not a period; it's only a comma." Any moment there can be the Rapture or our departure. Then we will join our departed dear ones to part no more. What a comfort this is for us and what a blessed hope we have beyond the grave! Let us "sorrow not even as others which have no hope" (I Thess 4:13).

"We shall sleep but not forever,

There will be a glorious dawn;

We shall meet to part - no, never,

On the resurrection morn!"

Our life on this earth is only 'for a season'. In fact, every stage of our life, every problem, every trial, every joy - are all only 'for a season'. Shall we then make the best possible use of every moment we have? Let us live every day of our life to the fullest.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

LIFE-CHANGING TRUTH

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (Jn 8:32).

"The truth shall make you free." 'Free' from what? Free from bondages to sin and to Satan, physical, mental and spiritual bondages.

Here is the test of any teaching or doctrine. Whatever the truth you may believe in or teach, if it does not change your stubborn, proud and arrogant nature, there is something wrong with the teaching or with your understanding of it. "Acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Tit 1:1)/ The Living Bible puts it as, 'to kead them to the truth -- the kind of truth that changes life." Yes, the test of the truth is whether it changes our lives or not.

When Amy Carmichael was a young girl, she was struggling to live a holy life, when she heard the verse "He is able to keep you from falling." Instantly her addled mind cleared; nothing ever mattered to her since then but things were eternal. She dedicated her whole life to the Lord's service and served as a missionary in India till her death.

Perhaps you know many doctrines and deeper truths; if they do not have any impact on your character, it's all vanity of vanities.

"Freedom from all the carnal affections,

Freedom from envy, hatred and strife,

Freedom from vain and wordly ambitions

Freedom from all that saddened my life."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

SOWN LIGHT...:

"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psa 97:11).

Light is "sown" for the righteous. What is the difference between "sown light" and "shining light"? A thing that is sown, like a seed, is buried for the moment and appears dead also. In other words, you may not see any light at the moment. Similarly, gladness is also sown and not seen.

Child of God, perhaps God is permitting you to go through a path in which, instead of light you find darkness and instead of gladness you find sorrow and suffering. Be of good cheer. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God" (Isa 50:10). Yes, you are obeying God and the servants of God above you, and you may be thinking, Why am I going through this darkness? Why have I no light? Dear child of God, light is sown for you and you just have to wait. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psa 30:5). "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matt 4:16).

When morning breaks and shadows flee away, the light that is sown is going to spring up. It's only for a short time that you have to walk through this valley of darkness.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

BY FAITH 'WENT'

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Heb 11:8).

By faith Abel WENT DOWN to the grave as a martyr. By faith Enoch WENT UP to heaven without seeing death. By faith Noah WENT UP INTO the ark. And by faith Abraham WENT OUT not knowing whither he went.

'By faith...obeyed." Faith is a great incentive to obedience. Disobedience is a clear sign of doubt and unbelief. Please note, it is very hard to obey, particularly in old age, when one's ideas and thoughts are fixed based on past experiences. Abraham was the first missionary to go out with the gospel and die in the country to which God sent him - unlike many modern missionaries who return to their native country to retire and die.

'By faith Abraham... was called to go out." Though he didn't know where he was going he knew with Whom he was going. By faith Abraham was separated from his country, people, home etc. for the sake of the truth. We too need a separation for the sake of the truth. People who are called to be the children of God sometimes mix up with the people of the world, and are conformed to the world - all because they do not have a true faith.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

CREATE HEAVEN FIRST...!

"In the beginning God created the heaven..." (Gen 1:1).

We do not find anything existing before God or without God. Indeed, nothing can exist without God. It is a proven fact that any joy, wealth, health or happiness without God or which has not come from God, can never be a genuine one in the genuine sense. As God is eternal, anything coming from God will also have a taste of Eternity.

The first creation of God was 'heaven', and not anything else. Only thereafter do we find all the other creations that were pleasant and perfect in all respects. This teaches us the salient truth that first of all heaven should be created in our mind, heart, home - everywhere. Then everything will be right and perfect in our lives.

The first thing that God did was 'creating', not reforming or repairing. In the life of a sinner too, the first thing God does is to create a new heart, a new mind - "Behold, all things are become new."

God's plan is still the same - first heaven and then the earth. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (i.e. heavenly things); and all these things ((i.e. earthly things) shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:33).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

BLESSED WEAKNESS...!

"He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Cor 12:9).

What is the infirmity or weakness St.Paul is glorying in? Does it refer to some sickness or physical weakness? Or does it refer to some spiritual weakness? No, it cannot be either, because these things cannot cause the power of God to rest upon anyone. What then is this weakness? When we consecrate ourselves to do only the will of God, by grace we receive a unique and blessed "weakness" - the weakness that makes us unable to do our own will; we have no strength at all to do our own will. We can call this a glorious weakness - because this weakness will take us from glory to glory. "He was crucified through weakness" (II Cor 13:4). This means Christ was weak to do His own will.

Jesus said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing" (Jn 5:30). Some are mighty to do their own will. Thank God, He has not called many mighty! See I Corinthians 1:26.

When we consecrate ourselves and decide not to do our own will, then the grace of God will come with a divine strength on our "weak" body - for us to do the perfect will of God.

Dear reader, do you have this blessed weakness which Jesus, St.Paul and many other saints had? If not, why don't you consecrate yourself right now to do the will of God for the rest of your life so that God's strength may be made perfect in you, so that grace to do the will of God may be bestowed on you?

"When I am weak, then I am strong" (II Cor 12:10). This means that when we are weak to do our own will we are strong to do God's will.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

STORM IN A TEA CUP...!

"Who (God) hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand" (Isa 40:12).

This verse gives great encouragement to those who are going through trials. As we know, in the Word of God, trials are compared to waters, storms, floods etc. as in Isaiah 43:2: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." If all the waters in the universe can be held in the hollow of one hand of our almighty God, then our trials, which are like a drop of water in the ocean, can in no way affect or ruin our spiritual life. All our trials are just like a storm in a tea cup!

"When by the swelling Jordan,

Your feet in sinking sand,

Remember still He holds thee

In the hollow of His hand."

Dear child of God, don't ever forget you are upheld in a mighty hand. "I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa 41:10). Our loving Lord's hands are so broad and powerful that no devil can pluck us out of them. Instead of looking at our smallness let us look at the greatness of our God; instead of looking at our weakness let us look at the strength of our God; instead of looking at our limitations, let us look at the unlimited grace that our God has for us.

As the songwriter says, We have a great, big wonderful God - Who makes our lives also wonderful.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

FINAL GRACE...:

"Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Pet 1:13).

When Jesus comes into one's life, grace also comes. The more of Jesus you have in your life, the more grace you have. Every revelation of Christ gives grace. "Revelation of Christ" means revelation of the character of Christ. We may get to know about Christ through books, studies, sermons, etc. but knowing Christ is possible only when we have a close walk with God. There is a special grace that we receive according to the revelation we have of His character.

Hope is connected with grace here. "Hope to the end for the grace." By grace we have the blessed hope of meeting the Lord. A person who does not have the hope of Rapture will not have grace also.

There is a grace that Jesus will bring when He comes in mid-air. What will that grace do in our life? It will transform our vile body into a glorious body. This grace can be called the final grace. If we grow in grace, finally the grace of God will change our body like unto His glorious body at His appearing.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"