Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 31

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” 

(1 Corinthians 10:1-13)

Today’s Morsel:  For me, one of the things that I have come to realize is that the things that were written afore in the Bible were written for my learning as a born-again believer.  If I fall into idolatry, it’s my fault.  If I fall into drunkenness, it’s my fault.  If I fall because of adultery, fornication, or pornography, it is my fault.  If I fall because of indebtedness, it is my fault.  If I fall because of lust, pride, hatred, prejudice, envy, jealousy, it is my fault.  If I say I am a Christian and I fall, it is no one else's fault but mine, because scriptures have already been written to give me the warning and to teach me how to not fall.  It is up to me to read them and heed them.  As the Lord told Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).  The apostle Peter tells us that if we add to our faith; knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love we will nerve fall (2 Peters 1:5-11).  If you are a Christian, you must stop saying it is someone else’s fault for your failure to serve God the way He asks you to.  Somewhere, you must take responsibility for your own actions.  I promise you, God is not going to listen to the excuse that it was someone else’s fault for your failure.  Jesus has given us the BIBLE (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) to guide us to keep us from falling.  Read it and heed it.  You can make it.   

Sing: 1. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.  The Testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple.

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold; sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.  

2. The Statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the Commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes. 

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.  

3. The Fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the Judgments of the Lord or true and righteous altogether. 

More to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb. 

Thought For Today: Be a doer of the word and you won’t fall.