Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 7

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous” 

(Deuteronomy 16:18-19)

Today’s Morsel:  As a leader, one of the things you learn quickly in the military is what gifts you can and can not receive from the people you oversee.  Sometimes, people’s face and countenance would change when they want to give you something and you had to tell them that you could not receive it from them.  This even held true for gifts that you may receive from allied nations.  As a senior military leader, I found myself having to ask my legal officer what I could and could not accept.  This is still in my mind today when people in the church want to give me a gift.  I find myself questioning if I should receive it or not because of my military training. Lady Justice, which stands outside of the US Justice Department, has on a blindfold,  a set of scales in her hand, and a sword.  The scales represent the weighing of evidence and are balanced to portray that the evidence should stand on its own.  The blindfold represents never favoring the strong nor the weak, the rich nor the poor, the righteous nor the wicked, the black nor the white, never favoring one over the other.  And the sword represents authority and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final.  Moses told the judges that they should not wrest judgment; that they should not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.  He cautioned them that a bribe could cause them to pervert judgment and not be fair in their dealing and rendering justice fairly to all people.  Even Elisha rejected Naaman’s gift after his healing.  But his servant Gehezi went after it and was made a leper for life (see 2 Kings chapter 5). We must never be unfair when rendering judgment.

Sing: I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Thought for today: Never take a gift to pervert judgment (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 6

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” 
(Proverbs 13:24)

Today’s Morsel:  I have heard many people say that they do not like confrontation.  Even some parents don’t like having to correct their children.  I have seen two and three-year-olds disrespect their parents and nothing is said to the child.  I have seen kids disrespect adults, law enforcement personnel, teachers, and their parents say nothing to correct them.  I have heard parents say they don’t know what they are going to do with their child because they won’t obey.  Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, state, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”  In other words, if you don’t correct your child, you don’t love them.  If you do love them, you correct them as soon as they are wrong.  The same is true in the church and in every home.  Correction reveals love even if the people you must correct may not like it.  Non-correction for fear of being hated by the child, or people leaving the church shows a lack of love on the authority’s part.  Which category do you fall in?  Remember, the earlier the correction the better, and the more love you are showing.  

Sing:  He touched me.  He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul.  Something happened and now I know, Jesus touched me, and He made me whole.

Thought For Today:  The earlier the correction the better (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 5

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalms 40:1-5).

 

Today’s Morsel:  As I read the scriptures, I often wonder how deep some of those pits were that they cast men into that they could not get themselves out.  The story is told of a man that had an old goat.  The goat fell into a deep dried up well.  So the man decided to bury the goat in the well. But as he cast shovels of dirt into the well to bury the goat, the goat would shake it off and stomp the dirt down with his feet. Before long, the goat was able to step out of the well.  The Psalmist said, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”  Like the psalmist, we must learn to wait and allow God to get us out.  When we think that we are in a pit that we can’t get out of, we must trust God to deliver us and to bring us out.  Sometimes we might be in a pit that we’ve dug by ourselves as everything we go through is not of the devil.  Scripture tells us, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him” (Proverbs 26:27).  Did you dig the pit that you feel you are in today?  It is amazing to know that God can get us out of any situation or circumstance that we may think is too hard for us, if we will just wait on and trust Him.  

Sing:  He brought me out of the miry clay, He set my feet on a rock to stay.  He put a song in my heart today, a song of praise hallelujah!

Thought For Today:  Don’t fall into your own pit (Parker).

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psalms 51:1-6).

Today’s Morsel:  I think one of the biggest fallings that we Christians have is that we don’t ask God to reveal to us our hidden sins, hidden motives, hidden wrong desires, hidden sexual undertones, hidden bad attitudes, hidden anger, and hidden unrighteous ways.  We pray and ask Him for healings of others and ourselves, but most of the time we are not hard on ourselves in our prayer to Him.  As I told the men a few weeks ago in our “Guy’s G.R.O.W.” lesson, we need to ask God to open us up and show us things that are hidden in our life that aren’t like Him, those things that can sneak up and destroy us.  In Psalms 19, David prayed, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalms 19:12-14).  In both cases, Psalms 19 and Psalms 51, David’s prayer is a prayer of true repentance and one seeking for a life change.  David’s sins seem to catch him by surprise.  Somewhere the sweet psalmist and man after God’s own heart got away from asking God to keep him pure.  And now he realizes that God wants truth within, not just truth without.  Jesus told the religious leaders to first clean the inside of the platter and the outside will be clean (my wording).  It’s always those hidden sins and idiosyncrasies that seem to get us into trouble.  

Sing:  Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

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: God desires truth in the inward parts.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 2

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” 

(Luke 15:11-24).

Today’s Morsel:  I was talking to a man one day and he said to me, “You know, I need to get back to church.  I keep telling myself that I need to go back.  My life was so much better when I was at church and involved in church.  But now that I haven’t been attending, my life seems to be a mess.”  This is an example much like the Prodigal Son and of a man that comes to the end of himself.  He realizes that where he is isn’t working.  He realizes that the path he’s chosen to walk down is the wrong one.  The story of the Prodigal Son is a story of a young man who left home with much and returned empty.  This is what the world will do to you.  Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Satan is the god of this world, and his goal is to take everything that you have and then kill you.  If you are continuously feeling like a hamster running around on a wheel in a cage, chances are things aren’t working for you. If all you seem to do is go to work, come home and sleep, and then repeat it all again the next day, chances are life isn’t working for you and you need to come to the end of yourself and come home just like the Prodigal Son did. Why delay?  The best place to be is home.  Come back to Jesus and His Home (the Church) this Sunday.  

Sing:  A little boy was lost one day, and they asked him where he lived?  And he said, "I don’t know." They asked him is there anything he could tell them about the house where he lived.  He said, "There is a white church close by with a cross on top"; And he said, "If I can find my way, back to that Old Cross, I can find my way back home."  Some of you may be like that little boy, is lost and can’t find your way home, but if you will come to that Old Rugged Cross, you can find your way back.

Thought For Today:  The Cross will get you home every time (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 1

“And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright”
(Genesis 25:31-34).

Today’s Morsel:  I have come to realize that most people in the church do not value their birthright.  Like Esau, they do not understand the value of what they have and how important that it really is.  Esau sold his birthright to his Brother Jacob for a bowl of pottage.  He told Jacob that he was at the point of death and the birthright wasn’t going to do him any good anyhow (My wording).  He didn’t value it, nor what came with it.  The first-born was dedicated to God.  Therefore, the birthright symbolized a gift from God.  So since Isaac was still alive, Esau could not see nor understand how important it was to him.  Isaac had not told them the importance until he was approaching his death. He sent him to get venison, so he could bless him.  In other words, so he could give and explain to him his birthright.  Like a will, it’s only good after the person who signs and gives it is dead.  Scripture says that later in life when Esau wanted it, he couldn’t find it though he sought for it with tears (Hebrews 12:16).  Scriptures even call him a profane person.  Meaning that his action and attitude toward spiritual things were not important to him.  He did not foresee this moment to come.  But when he realized the importance of his birthright and wanted it, it was to late.  It was gone.  He wept for a blessing and found it gone.  And God said, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated.  All because he didn’t value his gift from God.  Again, I feel like he was like so many in the church today, they don’t value what God has given them.  Paul said that God has given, unto us of His Spirit.  But many do not value what came with their salvation.  They are more willing to go after the things of the world for a moment of self-gratification for a season, than to enjoy eternal life and the blessings of God forever.  What about you?  Do you value your birthright?

Sing:  Thanks, thanks, I give you thanks, for all you have done.  I am so blessed, my soul has found rest.  O’ Lord, I give you thanks.

Thought For Today:  Your birthright has many blessings attached to it (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 February 28

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth” (Psalms 96:8-13).

Today’s Morsel:  One thing we can all be sure of in the end of life, and that is everyone will be judged fairly.  God has one standard that He will use for everyone.  And that standard is His word.  Truth.  The psalmist said, “For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” The world will be judged based on right and wrong.  But the people will be judged based on truth, the word of God.  The will be judged on if they have lived and obeyed it.  “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:44-48); And again John records, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17); As “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-2, 14).   Is your life in line with the truth? The teachings of God’s word?  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  God is a fair and equal judge, we have His word now to know what He will judge us by.

Sing:  There's just one, one, one, one way to God. There’s just one, one, one, one way to God.  There’s just one, one, one, one way to God, baptized in Jesus Name.

Thought For Today:  The center letter in the word truth is “U”.   Have "U" made sure your life is in accordance with the truth?