Morning Manna by Rufus Parker: 2011 January 21

Friday, January 21, 2011

2011 January 21 - Morning Manna

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Today's Morsel: Are you in Christ or out of Christ? If your focus in on the past, you are probably out. If your desires are for riches, fame and glory, you are probably out. If your hopes are obtaining some position, or a better car, home, or location, you are probably out. If your mind is often drawn to politics, sports, or worldly entertainment, amusement, and gadgets, you are probably out. But on the other hand, if your focus is looking ahead to what new thing God is going to do in and through you, you're probably in. If your discussion oftentimes lead you to talk about or write about Jesus, you're probably in. If heaven is your hope, dream, desire, and want, you are probably in. To be in Christ is to have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). It's to be free from continual worry, terror, and unrest. It is to be a vessel fit for the Master's use. It's being willing to go wherever and to do whatever Jesus asks of you. Paul said that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Therefore, you can't be the same as you were before. You are new. When you are new, you realize what you use to be, and that you've been given another opportunity to be what God intended for you to be when He created you. But because of sin in our lives, we became defiled. But when we repented of our sins and were baptized in His name, His blood cleansed us from our sins and we became new creatures. And now we are in Christ and old things are gone. So until one obeys Peters instructions, "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"(Acts 2:38), they are not yet in. Paul also lets us know why we need the Spirit of Christ in us, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). In or out, which are you?

Sing: He's changing me! My Blessed Savior, I'm not the same person that I use to be. Well it's been slow going, but there's a knowing, that someday perfect I will be.

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About Morning Manna

And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat (Exodus 16:10-15).

“Morning Manna” is a short daily devotion which began in 2002, with just a short note of encouragement to a friend who was facing difficulties at the time. Through their response, I was encouraged to begin a daily devotion via email and send it to people who asked to be put on the distribution list. It is now reaching around the globe. Its birth came about during Morning Prayer. The Lord revealed to me that I should forward my friend a word of encouragement, since it is through patience and comfort of the scripture that we find hope. Thus, I forwarded him the words the Lord had given to me for him, and he forwarded it on to someone else who was having difficulties in their life as well, and thus the original list began.

The goal of “Morning Manna” is to provide people with a quick, thought provoking Word from the Lord, as well as provide encouragement from His Word that can help them through the day and during unexpected trails and circumstances in their daily lives.

Several years ago, Jesus moved on my heart to start writing daily devotions; thus began “Morning Manna”. Today, many people are receiving these daily devotions and many of these people are forwarding it on to their family and friends. It is my hope to encourage even more through posting the devotions to this blog-page.

I pray that you, too, will enjoy reading the manna from this site.