Saturday, March 14, 2020

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 March 2020


The Basic Rock of Character

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.(Matthew 7:21-25)

Today’s Morsel:  Jesus closes the sermon on the mount by a beautiful comparison, illustrating the benefit of attending to His words.  It was not sufficient to hear His word; we must obey it.  He compares the man who should hear and obey Him to a man who built his house on a rock.  The basic rock of character is obedience to God’s word.  Jesus shows us what will keep us from falling when the storms of life come against us.  Peter informs us what to do to keep from falling also.  He says, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (2 Peter 1:5-10)  The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ and His word.  And His word is what we must use to build our lives.  If we do not obey His word, our spiritual houses will have no protection and we will fall.

Sing:  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.  Build your hopes on things eternal.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Thought For Today: To obey is better than sacrifice.

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