Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 June 4

The Hidden Gospel

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever seen that picture where you look at it and you see a beautiful woman, and if you look at it another way, you see an old hag? How is it that one person can see one thing, and another can see something else? How is it that one denomination can look and read the gospel and see The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, (as co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal), as the holy trinity, and another denomination can look at and read the same gospel and see Jesus Christ as the One True God, manifested in flesh? How is it that one denomination can look and read Matthew 28:19 and baptize folks in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and another denomination can read the same scripture and see that it says to baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? How and why is the truth of the gospel hidden from some folks? Why do some people get angry and upset when you question them about their understanding of the gospel? According to the apostle Paul, the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthains 15:1-4); And whatsoever we do in word or deed we are to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17); And  if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).And so, Paul informs us that if the truth of the gospel is hidden, then a person has been blinded by Satan, who is the god of this world. If “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12) who do you think that the apostle Peter may be referring to? And if the apostles were told by Jesus to teach and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, why didn’t the apostles He chose not do what He said? Why did they go out and baptize everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Acts if they were commanded by Christ to baptize in the trinity? What do you see when you read the gospel? Is it clear or is it hidden to you?

Sing: Send the light that blessed gospel light, let it shine from shore to shore; Send the light, the blessed gospel light, let it shine forever more.

Thought For Today: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” (Romans 10:16)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 June 3

I Lost It, But I Found It

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:8-10)

Today’s Morsel: Every time that I lose something in our home and can’t find it, my dear wife always jokingly says, “It will be in the last place that you look.”  They say that if you lose something that you should probably check in some of the last places that you visited, or the police station, as business and the local police have a lost and found department. And if the item that you lost can be identified by you, they will return it to you. Jesus tells the parable of three things that are lost to draw our attention to the importance of repentance and salvation. Each of us were lost until we came to Christ and gave ourselves to Him. The woman in the parable first realized that she had lost one of her coins. Why couldn’t she have just been satisfied with the nine? What was one coin? But to her it was important. Jesus doesn’t tell us the value of the coin, nor what it was used for. Many have speculated, but Jesus doesn’t tell us. He just said she lost it, and she lights a candle and sweeps the house until she finds it. Notice where it was lost. In the house. She had an indication of where she had lost it and knew that she needed to find it. You know, we can sit right in church on the pew and be lost. We can be surrounded by nine other saints, and we can be lost because of our attitude, conduct, or actions. We can present an outward appearance of holiness, but holiness starts within. Our thinking could be corrupted, or we might be a gossiper. Do you feel lost in the house? If so, why not stop, and light a candle of prayer, and allow God to show you where you are at so that the missing may be found. And I promise you, it will be in the last place you look.

Sing: He came looking for me, He came looking for me. He made a way when there was no way that I could not see. When I drifted so far, Jesus was near to rescue my soul and calm all my fears; Now safe from all harm since I met the One who came looking for me.  

Thought For Today: You aren’t lost; you’ve just lost focus. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 June 2

The Last Day of The Feast

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37-39)

Today’s Morsel: I love attending our church organizations’ annual General Conferences. Each year they are held, it gives us another opportunity to see some of those whom we haven’t seen in a while, and we get to make new friends. Throughout the week, the word is preached for every age group and generation. Throughout the week, many are being baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost. But the last night of the feast, the place is usually packed out, and there is a great anointing and mighty move of God. And many more are filled with the Spirit and baptized in Jesus’ name. Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) During the last day of Conference, there is usually a mighty outreach into the city and surrounding area to bring in the hungry souls and those who are seeking to get a drink from the fountain of living water. And they are not disappointed.  Are you thirsty for more of God? Do you feel as though you are feeling empty? Do you feel as though something is missing in your life? If so, Jesus is still calling for everyone that is thirsty, saying come. You can drink from the fountain of living water today.  

Sing: Come unto me all ye that are weary, and I will give you rest. Come unto me all ye that are weary, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, come unto me, learn of me, and your heart will be blessed.

Thought For Today: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 June 1

Prepare Your Heart

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” (Ezra 7:10)

Today’s Morsel: Maintaining a good heart requires you to eat right, sleep right, do right, and live right. Ezra, who was chosen to lead the first wave of Israelite captives back to their homeland after they had been in captivity for seventy years, knew that as priest, scribe, and leader, he would need Spiritual guidance, along with a lot of godly wisdom to direct these people, and teach them the ways of God. Most of these people that he would be leading back home would have had little or no knowledge of the laws of God. Some of them would probably have been born while in captivity, and may have taken on worldly ways, and would never have heard God’s word. And so Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to do it himself, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements. If you will notice, he prepared his heart first to seek the law, and then to do it himself. You can’t teach others what you don’t know and aren’t doing yourself. As James admonishes us: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22). If you get your heart right, everything else will fall in order in your life.

Sing: I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord, I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord, I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord, I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord.

Thought For Today: “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” (Psalms 105:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 30

Abiding In Christ

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8)

Today’s Morsel: To abide in something is to remain and to stay put. Jesus even told His disciple to abide in a certain place while He went yonder to pray. Jesus said that for us to be fruitful, remain fruitful, and bear fruit, we must abide in Him. Because without Him we can do nothing. Keep in mind, that Jesus is the Word. Therefore, if we are going to be fruitful and remain fruitful, then we must abide in His word. The word is the seed, and the fruit is in the seed, and the seed is in the fruit. John admonishes us: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6) One of the traits of character that Jesus walked with was that of compassion.  And many followed after Him. If we remain in His word and walk after Him, we will be fruitful, too. Job states: “My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:11-12) Job would not let the word of God go, no matter what came his way. And in due time, he was more fruitful than his beginning.  So for us to abide in Christ, we must abide in His word. Read His word. Study His word, live His word. Love His word. Cherish His word. Honor His word. And obey His word. The seed must be in you in order for you to bear His fruit.

Sing: Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus, till all conflict past, finds me conqueror, and in His own image perfected at last.

O’ deeper yet, I pray, and higher every day, and wiser, blessed Lord, in Thy precious holy Word. 

Thought For Today: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 29

Get Control of Yourself

“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Today’s Morsel: Have you noticed that a lot of folks are out of control. I have seen people arguing with the flight attendant on a flight because there was a mechanical problem with the plane. I have seen folks get upset with elderly drivers because they aren’t going fast enough. I have seen folks get angry at doctors because their health isn’t getting better. I have seen folks get upset that they didn’t get hired for a job because the owner, who was doing the hiring, would not allow them to work the hours that they wanted to work. I have heard of folks who got upset because they did not get a passing grade in school because they were late turning it their assignments. People are just out of control. And it’s seeping into the church. I have seen folks get upset at church because the preacher preached too long. When we cannot control ourselves, Satan and his demonic force will. The people of the world don’t seem to understand that we humans have an adversary who is out to steal, kill, and destroy. But we in the church ought to know this, and we ought to be able to get control of our conduct and behavior. As Paul informs us: “Let not then your good be evil spoken of:” (Romans 14:16) So, get control of yourself and make no room for the devil in your life.

Sing: Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain, free to all a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever; till my raptured soul shall find, rest beyond the river.

Thought For Today: If you have the Holy Ghost, you should have temperance. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 28

Say It Again

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.” (Philippians 3:1)

Today’s Morsel: How many times would you say that you have heard the same salvation message repeated? Sometimes we need to hear the same things over again so that we do not forget. The book of Deuteronomy is just a book of remembrance for the children of Israel so that they would not forget what God had done for them. When I was in the Army, we had basic subject classes that we had to attend every six months, and some once a year. They did not want us to forget them and how they applied to our lives and the lives of others. Paul told the church at Philippi that for him to write to them the same things were not grievous to him, but it was for their safety. You see, if we aren’t careful, we can begin to shun the important things of doctrine and begin to fall for every wind of doctrine. When truth is compromised, because folks don’t know it, it makes it easy for falling away.  And Solomon states: “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” (Proverbs 21:16) So, let me say it again, don’t wander from the name of Jesus or you will be lost. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). 

Sing: In my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, fear not I am with thee, peace be still, throughout all of life’s ebbs and woes.

Oh yes, it’s Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know; fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.

Thought For Today: Tell me His name again.