Mended Institute

Morning Bliss: Let God Prune You His Way_ Focal Scripture : John 15:2 'Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.'                                 Read: John  15:2 This purging has been interpreted in many ways.  The illustration that Jesus is using is one of pruning; therefore, some have said this purging is a very painful process where the Lord cuts and slashes us through things like sickness, death, poverty, and other forms of tragedy so that eventually we will bear more fruit.  This teaching not only promotes problems as being good, but necessary, if we want to bear more fruit. That thinking is not consistent with the rest of God's Word or even the context of this verse.  The text makes it very clear that the purging that Jesus speaks of is done through the Word that He h...

Morning Bliss: Communion Is Sacred _ Focal Scripture : Luke 22:19 'And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.'                                      Read: Luke 22:19 The bread of communion symbolizes the body of Jesus which was broken for us through His sufferings.  He not only died for us on the cross but also bore 39 stripes on His back by which we are healed.  Partaking of communion should remind us of the emotional and physical salvation that Jesus provided for us. The Lord's Supper comes from a part of the Passover meal that was celebrated only once a year.  However, the early Christian church took Communion weekly and sometimes daily.  There is no specific frequency of the Lord's Supper prescribed in scripture. As we take Communion, we are solemnly procl...

Morning Bliss: Love Comes First _ Focal Scripture : John 13:35 'By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.'                                      Read: John 13:35 Jesus didn't say that all men would know we are His disciples by our doctrine, our rituals, our hatred for sin, or even by the way we express our love for God.  He said very clearly, that the one characteristic that would cause the world to identify us as His followers, is our love, one for another. This same night, the Lord prayed to His Father using this same thought saying, 'That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me' (Jn. 17:21).  The only way that Christ's body will be one as the Father and Jesus are One, is through God's kind of love. Unity of believers, that...

Morning Bliss: How To Esteem Others More Than Self _ Focal Scripture : Matthew 25:40 'And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'                                      Read: Matthew 25:32-46 When a kind act was done to someone in need, Jesus said it was done unto Him. The Lord deeply feels our hurts.  When someone is neglected, Jesus says He is also being neglected.  We have a high priest who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities (Heb. 4:15). When we hurt, He hurts. When we are blessed, He is blessed.  The God of the universe is intricately involved with every detail of our lives. How can we esteem others better than ourselves when really we think we are better than others? Some people are better athletes than others.  Some are bette...