BLESSINGS ARE PLACED UPON OUR KNEES, NOT UPON OUR WORKS
Manna is the miraculous food that God provided for the Israelites for 40 years in wilderness before they entered Canaan. God promised and provided, but they did not recognize His blessings. So, the teaching of His words are necessary for us to be able to identify His provisions, then we can appreciate and manage them. God’s inclusion is often left unnoticed by our eyes because it is sometimes too small, too subtle, and too coincidental.
The pure blessing that is given off of God’s will and love is provided in the morning in the form of dew. The Israelites had to wake up very early to collect them. God ‘forced’ the Israelites to have a prayer gesture and seek His face.
God does not place our daily blessings upon our hard work. Instead, it is found upon our knees in our relationship with Him, which is when we kneel to God. Devotional time won’t directly fix our problems, but solving our problems begin with devotions. Our hard work positions us as a person who is ready to receive. Blessings are given because of grace and because God loves His people, not because we are worthy to receive them. Do not glorify our efforts.
BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR SPECIFIC BLESSINGS THAT ARE FROM GOD
God gives blessings specifically to each of us that are different from one another. During these times, let us not be jealous of others or feel inferior, and say that we are miserable. That is the same as saying that our Father in heaven has abandoned us. Always be grateful. Our Father is never wrong. He cares about us. Wait, for everything is beautiful in God’s timing, not in ours. God knows what we need.
Do not complain about something we have not owned. Count what we do own. All that we have right now is because of God. Let us be grateful of our blessings. Those who give thanks will become a blessing to others. Every family has to face God and determine their attitudes based on what is taught by the Word.
DON’T BE GREEDY, DON’T LOSE HEART
Do not be proud when we are in abundance, for if we don’t rely on God, in the next season of temptation we might lose everything. For those who seem to have lost everything at the moment, don’t lose heart. Maybe in the next season, you will be in abundance. Don’t be despaired, commit suicide, and lose hope. God’s plan is still ongoing. Do not measure ourselves based on today, but do it based on the faith that we have now, for that faith will carry us to the future.
HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Don’t be greedy and measure ourselves based on wealth. Don’t ever compare, judge, and be arrogant. If you are lacking now, don’t blame anyone, so that God will make what little in our hands to grow. God despises those who complain. Have the right attitude in God’s presence, for it will determine how God will deal with us: whether we will be increased or decreased.
LET GO OF OUR LOSS, DO NOT RUSH
Do not rush to collect the most possible in the shortest amount of time. Don’t look at wealth or poverty, but look at God. If we become greater, God can give purpose for our abundance, so that we do not drown in the wrong path. Whatever disappears in front of our eyes right now, believe with faith, it will become a seed tomorrow, where it will grow again. Let go of our losses in God’s presence, so that it will become a seed. God never erases manna.
TIME SPENT WITH GOD NEVER CAUSES US A LOSS
On the sixth day, manna is collected twice as much because the next day they must worship, so they weren’t allowed to work to collect manna. And this manna will not rot. We will not be at a loss when we sacrifice our time to seek God’s face, read Scripture, fellowship, and have devotional time. God can multiply our blessings.
WHAT IS KEPT IN GOD’S PRESENCE IS NEVER GONE
Do not seek material blessings, but seek personal experiences with God. Immanuel—God is with us—is the true treasure. Whatever is kept in God’s presence is never missing. Whatever is kept in obedience to God, will be multiplied at the right time. Manna during this pandemic teaches us to live with God who takes care of us and how to walk with Him who is the Source of our blessings. Take care of your heart so that it doesn’t become greedy, and so that we aren’t found without faith.
Excerpted from Ps. Philip Mantofa's Sermon, 10 June 2020, Yotutube & Instagram Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQfdBYNsuPI
