Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I felt terrorized! I was nine years old, standing outside the principal’s office and waiting to be called in to be disciplined. It was the most scared I had ever been in my life. The principal was not a nice person. She always looked and sounded angry. She had disciplined me a few weeks earlier for something I did not do. My teacher had even told her she had disciplined the wrong guy. She didn’t even apologize. Her words were, He probably deserved it anyway. To get pulled into her office for judgment again that day was terrorizing.

Many people are afraid that this is what it’s going to be like when they one day stand before God—their conscience over-stimulated with what they know wouldn’t be pleasing to God. Consequently, they would rather push the reality of God out of their mind, renaming Him a crutch for weak people, or nonexistent, or re-inventing God to their liking, than think about and feel terrorized in their heart over the thought of one day standing before Him for their life’s actions. They feel this way because they really don’t know Him. Their ignorance of God’s mercy, kindness, and love, is tragic!

God’s not like my less-than-wonderful school principal. God is God. He is merciful, patient, kind, just, holy, all-knowing, all-seeing, and a thousand wonderful things more. Your mind is not capable of understanding the depth, love, magnificence and wisdom of God without the help of the Holy Spirit. People can deny His existence and push Him away, but He is still God and He is still there. He is not evil. He is good. He’s not waiting to pounce or bring revenge for every wrong you’ve done. To the contrary, His mercy is new day-by-day (because you and I need it. He has a plan for every person to stand before Him without fear. And that plan is Jesus.

Jesus paid the price for our sins through His death. He paid the price and punishment upon the cross for the sins we committed. Knowing this and receiving Him into our heart as Savior is what enables us to stand before Him washed and cleansed from sin.  He did this out of His great love for us—not out of a desire to punish us. The book of Revelation shows a time where all of Heaven is singing about this great love and what Jesus did for all mankind—for all who would believe. Revelation 5:9 (NLT) “And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy… For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  God is not someone to be afraid of. He’s someone to run to! 

Terrorists represent the heart of Satan. They hate everyone indiscriminately and with evil intent, steal the lives of others—unlike Jesus who loves and gave up His life for the love of all. God is not someone to be afraid of. God didn’t love us when and while we were living perfect for Him. He loved us when we were at our worst. I know we struggle to love others when they reject us or are mean to us, but God doesn’t! And Jesus is the proof. That is what makes Him God and so wonderful. Romans 5:8 NLT reminds us, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” This kind of love is greater than we can wrap our minds around. We have to accept it by faith.

And if we blow it? What do we do? First, it’s not if you blow it. It’s when you blow it. You will. But, God knows that for you to learn to live for Him is a process of learning and trying. So He says to us in, 1 John 1:8-10 NLT “If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong doing. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.” 

Each of us is constantly surrounded by two kinds of people. The ones that don’t know the Lord and are dealing with their fear of God for what they think He will do to them, and the ones that know the Lord and are still dealing with thoughts of condemnation, guilt, and thinking God is rejecting them. Is that you? Well then let this be settled in your heart and mind today! Jesus is not out to get you! He is out to love you, save you, and help you get your life right. If you know the Lord and are still struggling with His love, because in your mind, you don’t measure up; then confess your sins, receive His forgiveness, regroup, and learn of His love. HE LOVES YOU!

Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)  “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” 

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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