Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 22

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:12-13).

Today’s Morsel:  Every so often, someone will come up to me at church or a gathering and say to me, “Is that a new suit?”  I have come to realize that people do watch us.   I have also come to realize, that we not only reflect God in who we are by our conduct but also in what we wear.  Paul tells us to put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. These things must be worn by us daily since we have put on Christ in the waters of baptism (Galatians 3:27). Peter instructs us, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3-4).  What are you going to wear today?  Is it going to reflect Christ to the world?  “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).  Both our inward and our outward adorning need to be a reflection of Christ in us, the hope of glory.  

Sing:  The windows of heaven are open, God’s power is falling tonight.  There’s joy, joy, joy in my heart since Jesus made everything right.  I gave Him my old tattered garments, He gave me a robe of pure white.  I’m feasting on manna from heaven, and that’s why I’m so happy tonight.

Thought For Today:  Always let Christ be seen in your decorum (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 20

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:6-7).

Today’s Morsel:  I often sit and ponder, and I ask myself at what point in a person’s life of those who attend church do they allow what the word of God says to get into their heart and they start doing what it says? Solomon says that the just man walks in his integrity and his children are blessed after him.  Notice, this is the faithful and upright man, who is made righteous by the obedience of Christ and His word.  And he walks by faith in Him, and according to the truth of the Gospel. When he does this, his children are blessed after him. Again, pondering on these scriptures, is this how we must train up our children in the way that they should go?  By allowing them to see us walking in our integrity?  If my children are blessed by the way that I walk, in my integrity, should I not walk circumspectly?  I want my children to blessed, so I walk upright before God and before them.  I maintain my integrity.   

Sing: Let me walk in the light, in the great gospel light.  Let me walk in the gospel light, till my journey is over and I’ll travel no more, let me walk in the gospel light.

Thought For Today: Monitor your walk (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 19

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalms 27:1).

Today’s Morsel:  The psalmist said that when we open the Bible, it gives light (Psalms 119:130).  Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, let there be light: and there was light.”  John tells us that God is light (1 John 1:5).  To me, God is the source of light.  That is, He guides and leads me.  Darkness is the emblem of distress, trouble, perplexity, and sorrow; light is the emblem of the opposite of these.  When God is present with us, His light causes our troubles to disappear, and His way is made bright and shining.  If God is on our side or is for us, we should have no apprehension of danger.  He is abundantly able to protect us, and we can confidently trust in Him.  David said that God is the strength of my life. God is the support of our life.  In other words, He keeps us alive.  Life is feeble and is easily crushed out by trouble and sorrow; but if God is our strength, there is nothing to fear or worry about.  He will light the way.  

Sing: Now let us have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him all about our troubles, He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by.  When you feel a little prayer wheel turning, you’ll know a little fire is burning.  You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Thought For Today: Jesus is the light that gets you out of darkness (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 18

“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (Matthew 15:21-28).

Today’s Morsel:  We are told that if we have an emergency or need help in a crisis to call 911 or to send out an SOS signal.  But who do you call or what signal do you send when it’s a need that neither of these things can help you?  There are times in life when the only one that can help us is Jesus.  When my peace is gone, only Jesus can bring that back to me.  When my health is failing, the only one that can give me the strength that I need is Jesus.  The Syrophoenician women needed help for her daughter that not even Jesus' disciples could provide.  They said to Jesus, “Send her away; for she crieth after us.”  Once she moved from just asking for His help to worshipping Him and then asking for His help, she received what she desired.  I don’t know what kind of help you may need today, but Jesus does, and your worship to Him could make a difference.

Sing: I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You.  I worship You, O’ Prince of Peace, that is what I long to do.  I give You praise, for You are my Righteousness.  I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You.

Thought For Today:  A heart of gratitude always proceeds the an answer to the cry for Help 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 17

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

Today’s Morsel:  This word ‘Sanctify’ means to render pure or to cleanse from sins (1 Thessalonians5:23, 1 Corinthians 6:11).  Sanctification in the heart of a Christian is progressive.  It consists of one becoming more like God and less attached to the world.  It’s getting the power over evil thoughts, and passions, and impure desires; and becoming more and more weaned from earthly things and attaching oneself to those things which are unseen and eternal.  The word also means “to consecrate, to set apart to a holy office or purpose” (See John 10:36, John 17:19).  When Jesus prayed here that God would sanctify them, He probably included the idea that they would be made holy, and be truly consecrated to God as the real ministers of the gospel, as most people of the gospel will only be devoted to the service of God in proportion to how they are personally pure.  How much of you are you giving to the gospel?  It is a reflection of your inner purity and relationship with Christ.  

Sing:  Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?  Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Thought for today: Stay sanctified for tomorrow we just might passed over. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 16

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalms 16:8-11).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that I like when reading my Bible through each year, is that I gain more revelation of the truth of God and His word, and I often get a better understanding of where the New Testament writers are coming from when they write to give us clarity of the Deity of Jesus Christ.  If you have been around the church for any length of time and have heard someone quote Acts chapter 2, then you know that today’s passage of scripture was quoted by the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost to show that the writing of this Old Testament passage, by King David, was referring to Jesus Christ.  When is the last time you have dug a little deeper for clarity to refresh your understanding as to who Christ is?  Look it’s in there, right in the Word of God.

Sing: It’s all in Him! It’s all in Him! The fullness of the Godhead is all in Him. It’s all in Him, it’s all in Him, the Mighty God is Jesus and it’s all in Him.

Thought For Today:  Who do you say that I am? (Jesus Christ) 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 October 15

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:1-2).

Today’s Morsel:  I believe the number one thing that causes disagreements is our desire to get even or to be right.  If you ever observe kids who get into a fight, it’s always he or she started it.  Most people will not accept being guilty of wrong.  If we would be quick to hear rather than to answer, we could probably save ourselves much trouble and heartache.  Solomon says that a soft answer turneth away wrath.  In other words, think about what you are about to say before you say it. Sometimes, you may just need to say, ‘I am sorry’, or just say nothing at all.  If we must answer, then choose words that will edify and not create division or argument.

Sing:  To be like Jesus!  To be like Jesus! On earth I long to be like Him.  All through life’s journey, from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.

Thought For Today:  Death and life are in the power of the tongue.