Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 13

The Way of Love

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

Today’s Morsel: Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, address an important topic for today’s church. And that is the topic of love. Paul, like the other apostles, understood that God is love. And they knew that Jesus’ teachings and example for them to follow, was that of His love. They knew that Jesus had told them that the greatest commandments were to love God, and their neighbor as themselves. The church at Corinth was zealous for spiritual gifts. Like some churches today, who are seeking for miracles, wonders, and signs. When we get zealous for the supernatural, and lose focus of what is important, we can start to drift away from truth. As the apostle James wrote: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) Paul wanted the church to know that the greatest gift was love. Not tongues. Not prophesy. Not healings. Not miracles. Not words of wisdom. It was God’s love.  And if Christ’s love was in them, then there ought to be some outward manifestation of that love being in them. And so, he addresses some of the ways that true love operates. He said that Charity (love)is long suffering, and is kind; it does not envy; it isn’t boastful about itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave rudely, doesn’t seek not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; doesn’t rejoice in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; bears all things, believeth all things, hope all things, endure all things. Love never fails. Love will not disappoint you nor let you down.  If we say that Christ is in us, then these traits ought to be being manifested in us.

Sing: Amazing grace shall always be my sing of praise, for it was grace that brought my liberty; I do not know just why He came to love me so, He looked beyond my faults and saw my need. I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary, to view the cross where Jesus died for me; how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul, He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

Thought For Today:  “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Colossians 3:14)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 12

God’s Love Is Inseparable

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

Today’s Morsel: When we study scripture, we see that God’s love is everlasting. His love is unchanging and divine. Jesus said, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:9) To continue in something is to keep doing it and living it out before others, even when they may not understand why you are doing it. Paul asked, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Is there something or someone that is pulling you away from God’s love? Paul says that there ought not to be anything that is able to separate you from God’s love. No pain, no death, no success, no failures, no angels, nor any powers, should be able to pull you away from God’s love. Remember, without Jesus you can do nothing (John 15:5). You can’t even know how to love without Him. If you allow anything or someone to come between you and God’s love, it is closer to God then you are. 

Sing: Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into my heart; Floods of joy over my soul like a sea-billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart.

Thought For Today: Keep your hand in the Masters hand.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 11

Fervent Love

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:22-23)

Today’s Morsel: The word Philadelphia means brotherly love. Paul wrote to the church at Rome: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13) He said to let your love be real. Let it be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. The idea of fervently, means to “stretch out the hand.” They were to be willing to help each other and be willing to lay down their lives if it was required. Peter tells them that since that were now born again, by the word of God, that they should love each other the way that the word of God required them. They must now obey the truth and display genuine love for the brethren. Fervent love must stretch across racial bearers and skin color. It must be from the heart of the Spirit. As Paul told the church at Philippi: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:1-5) Do you have the mind of Christ? If you do, you will love fervently.  

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: Everyone hates false love.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 10

The Standard

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.” (John 15:9-17)

Today’s Morsel: Everything that Jesus wanted us to be and to become, He modeled it before us and left us an example of how to do it. Because God is love (1 John 4:7), and we are called to be like Him in all things, He set the standard for us. We know through scripture that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus said, this is my commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you. John tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) The same way that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac to prove that he trusted God, God was willing to sacrifice His Son to prove His love and salvation for us. And again, John tells us:“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12) The Holy Ghost ought to motivate you to love, as the standard was set at Calvary for you to follow.

Sing:  Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. 

Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.

Thought For Today: The word of God ought to remind you of the standard that was left for you, you must follow.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 9

Impartiality

“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)

Today’s Morsel: It may seem sometimes hard for us to love the stranger. But through the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10), Jesus shows us how this ought to be done. If we are seen by others as Jesus’ disciples, then based on our love, we must share and show love to everyone. Paul tells the church is Ephesus: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:11-22) He said that they were strangers from the covenant of promise and had no hope and were without God. In other words, he reminded them of where they came from. We cannot be impartial when it comes to God’s love and loving others. James tells us: “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8-9) Don’t forget that you were once an alien.

Sing: I’m so glad that Jesus loved me, Jesus loved me, Jesus loved me; I’m so glad that Jesus loved me, that Jesus loved even me.

Thought For Today: Always keep the Golden Rule in place and love will be displayed in your life.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 7

A Life of Prayer

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Today’s Morsel: We don’t read much about prayer until scripture says, “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 4:25-26) Verse 26 offers that there was a shift in worship and praise and seeking after God. Maybe they realized after Cain’s murder of Abel that something was missing. Maybe they realized that leaving God out of the picture, evil things happen. Prayer is designed to keep our relationship with Christ solid and firm, so that we do not allow evil to penetrate our lives and homes. Prayer, even according to Jesus, prevents us from quitting and giving up. Paul said that we should pray without ceasing. Talking with Jesus must be a habit in our lives. Whether we are praying for ourselves or interceding for others, it must be a habit. James tells us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. When you can find one that you feel is truly righteous, and one whom you feel that you can share your condition or fault with for prayer, it can bring about great results. A life of prayer if often found in a life of righteousness.

Sing: Someone is praying for you. Someone is praying for you. So, when you feel you’re alone and your heart would break in two, remember someone is praying for you.

Thought For Today: A life of prayer begins with a life of righteousness.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 6

Loving Others

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: Paul calls for us to have the same love as Christ. What kind of love did Jesus have? Jesus had unconditional and sacrificial love. Jesus’ love for us was not based on what we could do for Him, but what He could do for us. Unconditional love is birthed out of a heart of compassion. The second commandment, Jesus said, is like the first, love your neighbor as yourself. If you see others as being you, then you will treat them as you would like to be treated. But if you see them as someone else, chances are you will not treat them as yourself. If you do not have love for yourself, it’s going to make it hard for you to have God’s love operating in your life. Paul calls it comfort of love. What is love that comforts? It’s love that edifies, strengthens, and motivates others to know that you care. Paul also said, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)He said that God comforts us so that we may be able to comfort others with the same comfort. God loves us, and we are to love other the same way.   

Sing: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores; Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me! Love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Thought For Today: You can’t share God’s love if He’s not abiding in you.