Thursday, March 22, 2018

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 March 22

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:1-7).

Today’s Morsel:  I hear about a lot of folks talking about the faith that their grandparents or parents had when they lived on the earth.  But for many of them that say such things why they don’t have the same faith.  Did their forefathers not explain it or share with them the value and the importance of it.  Did they think that their off-spring would learn it on their own?  Paul told the church, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  In other words, instructing them in the knowledge of divine things, setting good examples before them, taking care to prevent them from falling into bad company, praying with them and for them, bringing them to the house of God, under the means of grace, to attend public worship; all which, under a divine blessing, may be very useful to them someday.  Paul wanted Timothy to know that the faith which was in him, did not begin with him but was also in his mother and his grandmother; and that all he needed to do when he was discouraged was to stir it up.  In other words, like coals that don’t seem to be burning, if you stir them up and allow the wind to blow on them they will begin to burn again.  Maybe you feel as though your faith is going out.  Why not stir up the gift that is in you with praise and allow the wind of the Holy Ghost to blow on you so that you will glow brighter than before, so the fire will pass on to the next generation.

Sing:  Faith can move mountains, mountains of fear and of doubt, faith can move mountains, so why don’t you try your faith out.

Thought For Today: Your faith must communicate to the next generation.  (Parker)

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