The Law Condensed

by Lilienne, teenage Morning Manna member

This morning, I was studying Matthew 22:36–40.

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Using Strong's Concordance, I looked up what the words meant in the original language. When I replaced key words with their meanings, I came up with this paraphrase:

"Master, which is the exceeding great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt agape (which means unselfish love) the Lord thy God with all thy thoughts and feelings, with all thy vitality (actions?), and with all thy deep thoughts. This is the chief and exceeding great commandment. The second is like unto it, Thou shalt agape anyone you come in contact with as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the old testament law."

Wow! So basically the law means, "Love God & love your neighbor," which then can be condensed into one word: Love.  

Do we love God that much? Do we put others before ourselves that much?

It's the one chief and exceeding great commandment!

Turning Time Wasters to Tools

by Cheyenne Reiswig

Yes, I'm a smartphone user, and this photo is evidence.
It was taken with my phone!

I don’t know about you, but when I read inspired statements like these, my conscience winces a bit:

“Our time belongs to God.”

“The value of time is beyond computation.”

“Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time.”

“We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin.”

“Christ regarded every moment as precious.”1

I do try to be efficient with most of the hours in my day: the time I devote to work, study, cooking, etc. But what about the spare moments—the hours driving (or riding) in the car, the minutes between breakfast and going to work, my lunch break, and evening time when I’m waiting for family worship?

I’ll admit it: When I have unscheduled free time, too often I reach for my smartphone or my laptop. Either way, time gets frittered away as I check out the latest happenings in distant friends’ lives, watch humorous video clips, or read blogs.

Memory Text for January 11–17

Key Thought for Lesson 3, "Good Ground"
The work of character building is a cooperative effort between us and God.

Memory Text:
“The good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

Project: Memory
“Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun” (Psalm 19:4).

Memory Text for December 28–January 3

Key Thought for Lesson 1, "Sowing the Seed"
God has placed the truths of salvation in objects He created. One important truth is that we can choose to plant seeds of goodness that will help us grow more like Jesus.

Memory Text:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Project: Memory
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” (Psalm 19:1, 2).

Memory Text for December 21–27

Key Thought for Lesson 13, "Branches of the Vine"
Abiding in Christ is the only way to be true Christians. We abide through prayer, Bible study, asking for the Holy Spirit, and absolute surrender to Christ.

Memory Text:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Project: Memory
Did you complete the memory project of learning Ephesians 6:1–18? Congratulations! We hope you've taken the chance this week to review.

Memorization Club, Part 3: Your Own Club

by Sylvia Evert

So you’ve decided to start a Bible memorization club. You’ve set a goal, begun to get organized, and prayed for God’s blessing. Now you just need some members—and a plan to keep them enthusiastic and involved.

Memory Text for December 14–20

Key Thought for Lesson 12, "The Vine"
Just as the branch could not survive without the vine, we have no righteousness apart from Jesus.

Memory Text:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Project: Memory
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

Bible Memorization Club, Part 2: Getting Ready

by Sylvia Evert

I was so excited about my Bible memorization program that I mentioned it in nearly every message I sent to family and friends. To my surprise, several people asked if they could join me. They even wanted copies of my calendar, so we could do it together.

I was surprised and thrilled. I went to work right away and made a calendar in Microsoft Excel. Then I sent it to all those that had requested to join. Before I knew it, I had a Bible memorization club!

As I kept up with my club, I soon learned something wonderful: In trying to motivate others, I motivated myself. I could hardly encourage my friends to do something without doing it myself. When you know people are looking to you as a leader, you don’t want to let them down.

How about it? Do you want to start a serious program of Bible memorization? Would you like to encourage your friends to do the same? Are you ready to start a memorization club? If so, here are some pointers I learned along the way.

Memory Verse for December 7–13

Key Thought for Lesson 11, "Kept Through Faith"
We can be kept by God’s power every moment when we trust Him even in what we don’t see or understand.

Memory Text:
“And 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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

Project: Memory
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17).

Memory Text for Nov. 30–Dec. 6

Key Thought for Lesson 10, "Kept by the Power of God"
God has the power to keep us from every sin, great or small.

Memory Text:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3–5).

Project: Memory
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14, 15).

Bible Memorization Club, Part 1: How It Began

by Sylvia Evert

Have you ever become discouraged after starting to memorize a chapter or book of the Bible? Have you wished you had someone to inspire you and encourage you to keep pressing on? I have! That’s why I started a Bible memorization club.

It all began several years ago, in the early summer. I had decided to undertake a major memorization project—to memorize the gospel of John before Christmas. By my calculations, I’d need to memorize about a chapter a week.

Memory Text for November 16–22

Key Thought for Lesson 8, "Flesh—or Spirit?"
When we give God our absolute surrender, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit to free us from slavery to sin.

Memory Text:
“Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2, 3).

Project: Memory
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Memory Text for November 2–8

Key Thought for Lesson 6, "Impossible Possibilities"
God can work impossible possibilities in our lives—even to setting us free from the sins which make our lives miserable. His strength is available to us when we give Him our absolute surrender.

Memory Text:
“And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

Project: Memory
“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him” (Ephesians 6:9).

Memory Verse for October 26–November 1

Key Thought for Lesson 5, "Turning Point"
As long as we are holding onto our old, sinful self, we cannot truly serve God. Like Peter, we must have a turning point, where we realize our need and go to God in absolute surrender.

Memory Text:
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

Project: Memory
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Ephesians 6:8).

Memory Verse for October 19–25

Key Thought for Lesson 4, "Whose Way?"
When we are absolutely surrendered to God, we will approach Him with a humble, tender, teachable heart and ask Him to reveal His will and give strength to obey. Then, in faith, we will do what He asks of us.

Memory Text:
“My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5).

Project: Memory
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6, 7).

Memory Text for October 12–18

Key Thought for Lesson 3, "The Power of Surrender"
If we are not willing to surrender everything to God, we are not totally surrendered to Him. When we allow it, God will work in us to make us willing and able to surrender to Him.

Memory Text:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Project: Memory
“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5).

Memory Text for October 5–11

Key Thought for Lesson 2, "Moment by Moment"
When we yield God our absolute surrender, we will trust Him to work out every situation for our best good.

Memory Text:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Project: Memory
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Memory Text for September 28–October 4

New quarter's theme: Absolute Surrender

Key Thought for Lesson 1, "Divine Magnet"
God has a wonderful plan for our lives. He cannot work out this plan without our absolute surrender.

Memory Text:
“The king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have” (1 Kings 20:4).

Project: Memory
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1–3).

Memory Text for September 21–27

Key Thought for Lesson 13, "Making It Real"
A definite plan is essential to having a vibrant prayer life.

Memory Text:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1).

Project: Memory
All done with Ephesian 3:14–4:7. Can you recite it? Comment below!

Memory Text for September 14–20

Key Thought for Lesson 12, "Fellowship with the Father"
Prayer can be a real, heartfelt conversation between you and your Lord!

Memory Text:
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

Project: Memory
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7).