Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 September 1

"Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel." 

(Exodus 1:1-12)

Today’s Morsel: Though scripture, I often observe the life of Jesus and His people that the more they were afflicted the more they seem to grow.  In the New Testament, the more they were persecuted, beaten and afflicted, the more the church multiplied and grew.  But today, there seems to be an avoidance by people not to be persecuted or afflicted.  They seem to want an easy way. Would the church grow more if we took a stand for righteousness and truth in today’s world even if it brought persecution and affliction?  Would the people of God grow more spiritually and become more like their Heavenly Father if they were afflicted more?  The Bible says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19).  Israel went down into Egypt with 70 people.  And when they were placed into slavery and afflicted, they multiplied and grew.  So the next time you are feeling as though you are being afflicted, don’t try to get away from it, but stand still and see what the Lord is doing in your life.  He just might be growing you for what He’s getting ready to do through you.

Sing:  Jesus! Jesus! You know what best for me.  So lead on, Jesus, I’ll go wherever You lead.

Thought For Today:  "If though faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small"  (Proverbs 24:10).  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 31

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” 

(1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Today’s Morsel:  For me, one of the things that I have come to realize is that the things that were written afore in the Bible were written for my learning as a born-again believer.  If I fall into idolatry, it’s my fault.  If I fall into drunkenness, it’s my fault.  If I fall because of adultery, fornication, or pornography, it is my fault.  If I fall because of indebtedness, it is my fault.  If I fall because of lust, pride, hatred, prejudice, envy, jealousy, it is my fault.  If I say I am a Christian and I fall, it is no one else's fault but mine, because scriptures have already been written to give me the warning and to teach me how to not fall.  It is up to me to read them and heed them.  As the Lord told Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).  The apostle Peter tells us that if we add to our faith; knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love we will nerve fall (2 Peters 1:5-11).  If you are a Christian, you must stop saying it is someone else’s fault for your failure to serve God the way He asks you to.  Somewhere, you must take responsibility for your own actions.  I promise you, God is not going to listen to the excuse that it was someone else’s fault for your failure.  Jesus has given us the BIBLE (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) to guide us to keep us from falling.  Read it and heed it.  You can make it.   

Sing: 1. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.  The Testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple.

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold; sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.  

2. The Statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the Commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes. 

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.  

3. The Fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the Judgments of the Lord or true and righteous altogether. 

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb. 

Thought For Today: Be a doer of the word and you won’t fall. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 30

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Today’s Morsel: The Greek word for substance is the word, hupostasis (hoop-os'-tas-is), which is a support, assurance, or confidence.  So we can see that the thing that we need to support us and to keep us strong while we wait for what we may desire is faith.  Faith is like the stump and roots in the ground of a tree.  The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah that when the teil tree and the oak tree cast forth their leaves you know that there is substance in them (Isaiah 6:13).  In other words, you know that their support is intact and firm.  He said that He would be the substance in the earth.  A tree's roots are working if there are leaves on the tree because leaves don't grow on a tree whose roots and stump are dead.  Jeremiah said, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).  In other words, blessed is the man who has his faith in the Lord.  If he has faith in the Lord, he has substance to endure.  How is your support network working?  You will be flourishing with leaves if your roots are deep.  

Sing:  Faith can move mountains, mountains of fear and of doubt.  Faith can move mountains, so why don’t you try your faith out.

Thought For Today:  Faith is substance.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 29

"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil."  

(Proverbs 13:19)

Today’s Morsel:  I love it when I set out to do a project and then when it is done, I can sit back with a cold glass of ice tea and rejoice over the accomplishment.  Solomon said that the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.  I believe this is one of the reasons scripture tells us that no matter what we do to do it hardily unto the Lord and not unto man.  If we want happiness, then we must purpose to accomplish everything that we set out to do, and do it to the best of our ability.  That includes our eternal salvation. I promise you it will be sweet to your soul.

Sing: His love is sweeter as the days go by, sweeter as the days go by.  Richer, fuller, deeper, stronger, Jesus’ love is sweeter, sweeter, sweeter, sweeter, as the days go by.

Thought For Today:  Always accomplish what you set out to do. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 28

“So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first” 

(Matthew 20:8).

Today’s Morsel: In his gospel, Matthew seems to use more parables of Jesus teachings than the other gospel writers to get his point across.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Matthew's writing of the Sermon on the Mount was to express Jesus' teaching about Christian conduct and actions, and today's story is no different.  The last shall be first and the first last was not a story about work and wages.  It was a story to reflect the Jews' attitude towards the Gentiles.  It was a story to indicate that when the Gentiles would come in, the last, they would receive from Him the same as others.  There would be no difference with Him.  The story is about His (The Master's) character of equality and faithfulness to reward based on His word.  The Gentiles, which would be later engrafted in, which were last, and the Jews, which were chosen by Him first, were not happy with this story.  When Jesus told them that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before them (Matthew 21:31-32), the chief priests and Pharisees perceived that He spake of them and they went about the kill Him.  How’s your attitude toward others who do not look like you?  Do you think that just because you are a fifth generation Christian you deserve more?  It doesn’t work that way with Jesus, so you will need to adjust your attitude.  No matter the hour one may get saved, we all get the same reward, and that reward is eternal life.

Sing:  I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.  I need a cleansing from the fountain.  My soul is hungry, I've got this feeling within.  I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Thought For Today:   Get a right attitude and keep it.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 27

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias” (Matthew 17:1-4).

Today’s Morsel:  In 2014, my wife and I, along with some of the other ministers of our District took a trip to the Land of Israel. Throughout the entire trip and touring, you could hear comments such as:  “I’m so glad that I came.”  “I wouldn’t have traded this for anything.” “It is so good to be here.”   The disciples of Jesus, which some call His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, were taken up by Jesus into the Mount and revealed more as to Who He was.  Peter was so surprised at what he saw, that he said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”  When we were in Israel and touring some of the sights, I said just as Peter, "Lord, it is good for us to be here to see where You walked, where You taught, where You healed, where You performed miracles. It was so good to be where Your Spirit was first poured out on the Day of Pentecost. It was so good to be here in the land that You promised to Your people."  And now, every time I go to church, I can say, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. Because You said, where two or three are gathered together in your name, there You would be in the midst of them."  Always go to church, because you never know what you might miss if you miss!  

Sing:   I want to be where you are.  Dwelling in your presence.  Feasting at your table.  Surrounded by your glory.  In your presence.  That's where I always want to be.  I just want to be.  I just want to be with you.

Thought For Today: Always go to church as you never know what you might miss if you miss!   

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 25

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” 

(Isaiah 43:25).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about God’s goodness is that He is not willing that any should perish. Calvary reflects His desire to see all saved. His choosing of the disciples to go into all the world and to preach the gospel shows His love to see everyone saved.  His continual teaching of forgiveness and remission of sins while here on earth reflects His willingness to see people saved.  As He told the prophet Ezekiel, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel” (Ezekiel 33:11)?  The people of old knew that the only one that could forgive and blot out sins was God.  The message of salvation requires that our sins be blotted out.  Sin cannot enter heaven.  As Peter stressed to the people on the Day of Pentecost, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:38-42).  If we want to have an abundant life here on earth and live with Him for eternity, then our sins must be blotted out while we have a chance.

Sing:  Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, O' God, take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.

Thought For Today:  Sin shall not enter there.