Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 November 2021

  Confession

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the scariest things for most people to do is to confess their sins.  But we cannot be saved if we do not.  Sin cannot enter heaven.  Once we are born again, it does not mean that we will not do things, say things, or make mistakes that are sinful in nature.  But the good thing is, we can repent and ask God to forgive us; and He is faithful and will do so, as long as it is not blaspheming against the Holy Ghost.  We see that in the Old Testament when people sinned, there were certain requirements for them to be forgiven of their sins.  One of those requirements was that they had to bring certain offerings and be pronounced clean by the priest.  But this requirement is not needed under the New Testament dispensation of grace.  Jesus Christ is our great high priest.  All a person needs to do is come to Him, and confess their wrong to Him;  He is the only one that can forgive our sins. Man cannot do that for us.  Confession is good for the soul!

 

Sing:  I came to Jesus weary, worn, and sad; He took my sins away, He took my sins away.  And now His love has made my heart so glad; He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away, and He keeps me singing every day!  I’m so glad, He took my sins away; He took my sins away.

 

Thought For Today: Jesus will not reveal what you tell Him. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 November 2021

Active Faith 

“Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:9-14)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about our faith in Christ as Christians is that it should always be active.  We must be ready to use our faith at any moment.  It must be kept active and never inactive.  We have God’s word and oath that He is with us, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  No matter what we face, we must always believe that God will come through.  And if He doesn’t come through as we think He should, it still should not change our belief and trust in Him.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  Joshua knew that the Captain of the Lord of Host was with them.  And in today’s passage, we see that God fought with and for them.  But Joshua wanted to complete the battle and he needed daylight.  And so he put his faith into action.  He said, in the sight of Israel, 'Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.' And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And scripture says, “And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.”  What an active faith.  Do you believe that God will fight for you?  Why not try your faith out and see what God will do for you.

 

Sing:  Victory, victory shall be mine.  Victory, victory shall be mine.  If I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battles; victory, victory shall be mine.

 

Thought For Today: All things are possible to him that can believe.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 November 2021

 When We Don't Understand

“And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:5-12)

Today’s Morsel:  When we read scripture, we must make sure that we get an understanding of what is being spoken and of what is written, or we can become confused and go the wrong way.  The disciples thought that they knew what Jesus was talking about.  But when Jesus explained to them that He wasn’t talking about bread, then they understood that He was talking about doctrine. One of the first principles of learning is to understand. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)  If you do not understand how the gospel is applied to your life, you can think that you are saved and be way of course.  When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again (John 3:3), Nicodemus was confused stating, “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” (John 3:4)  He wanted an understanding.  There is nothing wrong with asking if you don’t know.  As Solomon said, "Happy is the man that getteth understanding."  A good understanding of things natural and civil gives favor among men, and so a good understanding of divine and spiritual things gives a man favor among people.  Why live in the fog and darkness when you can walk in the light of and with understanding?  Search the scriptures and gain understanding.  

 

Sing: Who is this who loves a sinner as a father loves his own, grieving over those who spurn his gentle plea.  Always ready to forgive them and to make forgiveness known, who is this forever calling you and me?

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad one’s weep no more.  He will heal the brokenhearted open wide the prison door; He is able to deliver evermore.

 

Thought For Today: “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 November 2021

 The God of Our Salvation

 

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.” (Psalms 68:19-20)

 

Today’s Morsel:  I have heard folks in every Christian denomination say that the only one that can save you is Jesus.  And this is a true statement.  The name Jesus means Jehovah is Salvation.  Even the apostle Peter stated when they asked him how the impotent man was healed. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12)  Notice, “Neither is there salvation in any other.”  Who was Peter referring to?  Jesus Christ. The Psalmist wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. As Isaiah penned? “ Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:10-12)   Who is the God of your salvation?  Jesus is the only giver of salvation.  

 

Sing: There are so many wonderful things about Jesus, there are just so many things about Him.  There are so many wonderful things about Jesus, there are just so many things about Him.  His name is Wonderful, He’s a wonderful counselor, He is the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, He is the Prince of Peace.  There are so many wonderful things about Him.

 

Thought For Today: “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 November 2021

                                                         What Time Is It?

 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Throughout the day, most people will hear someone ask, “What time is it?”  Why are folks concerned about the time?  We plan our day based on time.  Physicians see us based on time.  Repairmen charge us based on time.  The writer of Hebrews stated, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” (Hebrews 5:12)  Have you considered that it might be time for you to get involved in ministry and start teaching others?  Paul wrote to Timothy, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1) Is there danger around you?  Are we in the last days?  Is the time running out? What time is it?  “And that, knowing the time, (Paul said) that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:11-14); “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Don’t allow the world to lull you to sleep so that you don’t know what time it is.  And don’t get so busy that you don’t have time for others.  Especially Jesus.  

 

Sing:  Time is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand.  Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand!

Hold to God’s unchanging hand!  Hold to God’s unchanging hand! Build your hopes on things eternal; hold to God’s unchanging hand!

 

Thought For Today: “He hath made everything beautiful in his time.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 November 2021

Hidden Treasures

 

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:3)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that I have come to realize about the word of God is that there are many hidden treasures within its pages that must be searched out.  Paul calls them mysteries of godliness.  He told Timothy, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3: 16)  Paul unfolds to us a hidden treasure. Who Jesus was. God in flesh. That’s just one of the hidden treasures in the word of God.  Here’s another, “…That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3) Notice what is hidden in Jesus Christ, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  WOW!  If we want wisdom and knowledge, all we have to do is go to Jesus.  Here’s another, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40)  God desires to open your understanding to hidden things in His word so that we may have life.  Are you searching the word of God out to find those hidden treasures?

 

Sing:  I saw the light, I saw the light.  No more in darkness, no more in the night.  Now I am happy, no sorrow in sight.  Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

 

Thought For Today: “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 November 2021

                                                        Instructions

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Some folks do not understand the importance of instructions.  Many will just brush them off and say, “Oh, I didn’t know that’s what you meant.”  Instructions are directions for doing something. For putting things together correctly. And also for helping us to understand.  Solomon states,  “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9)  Most people who advance with good grades in school and achieve honors are usually those who follow the instructions given to them at the onset of class.  Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)  Will this be because they fail to heed the instructions?  If we fail to do what God’s word says, we are failing to obey instructions.  If I learned nothing else in my 28 years of military service, I learned the importance of following instructions.  Minor details will make you or break you.

 

Sing:  Show me Your way, that I must walk with You, show me your way, that I must live for You.  The cry of my heart is to know You more, to live according to Your plan.  Stronger each day, show me Your way.

 

Thought For Today: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8)