Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 21

“And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts” (Matthew 8:28-34).

Today’s Morsel:  I don’t know if you are aware, but a lost opportunity is a lost opportunity.  No matter what it is.  If you had an opportunity to say a kind word and you didn’t, you missed that opportunity.  If you had an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus and you didn’t, you missed that opportunity.  If you had an opportunity to pray for someone about their situation when they told you and you didn’t pray right then, you missed an opportunity.  James tells us, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).  The people ask Jesus to leave their shores.  What a missed opportunity.  I’m sure there were others in the village that had issues in their lives that could have been met.  But they rejected Him.  They lost an opportunity.  So ask yourself, what can I do to ensure I do not miss an opportunity to do good, share a word of encouragement, pray, or even help someone?  Be sensitive and listen carefully to His voice so you don't miss the opportunities He presents to you.  

Sing:  Farther along we’ll know all about it; farther along we’ll understand why.  Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine; we’ll understand it all by and by.

Thought For Today:  A lost opportunity is a lost opportunity. (Parker)