Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 February 12

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:1-20)

Today’s Morsel: You know, I grew up in what I called the church, but like Paul, I was spiritually blind to Truth.  Think about this, Paul was a well-educated man in the law of God but yet he was blind to truth.  Paul felt that what he was doing was for the glory of God.  He wanted to destroy this new sect that was preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ.  Even Jesus had told His disciples to beware of the doctrine of the Sadducees and Pharisees because they say one thing and do another.  And Paul was a part of them. Paul had to be blinded before he could see.  And did I.  I was blinded to the truth of God’s word.  I was blinded to who Jesus was.  I was blinded to how to live holy and righteous even though I went to church.  I said one thing and did another.  But one night in all my blindness, in a hotel room in Kaiserslautern, Germany, a man named Jesus walked into my room  and removed the scales from my eyes.  And straightway, like Paul, I began to preach Christ Jesus and Him crucified.  Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: “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).  Spiritual blindness is the worst kind of blindness a person can have.  Allow Jesus to remove the scales from your eyes so that you may see the Truth of His word.

Sing:  Open the eyes of my heart Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You.  To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory, pour out Your power and love; as we sing holy, holy, holy; I want to see You.

Thought For Today:  Are you being blinded by the doctrine of men?