Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 30

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise”
(Luke 10:30-37)

Today’s Morsel:  Years ago, one of the early morning shows on television for kids was “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.”  I personally think that the show was more for parents and adults than it was for the kids, to teach us how to treat each other because kids will only do what they see the parents and adults do.  Listening to Pastor Frank Ritchie's devotion, Good Samaritan Church in Wisconsin, at Men’s Camp this year as he spoke of the story of “The Good Samaritan” was challenging to our ministry.  Some of the points he stressed were:

·        The Samaritan didn’t care who the man was

·        He didn’t care where the beating took place

·        He didn’t care about what road it happened on

·        He didn’t care who beat him

·        He didn’t care about what the Priest and the Levites did or did not do

·        He didn’t care that the man was left for half-dead

He just saw a man in need and the Samaritan was willing to set aside whatever plans he had to help him.  He was willing to forgo his own plans to help.  Isn’t this what a good neighbor does?  Are you a good neighbor?  Isn’t this Jesus' answer to the lawyer's question when he asked Him who was his neighbor?  Your neighbor is the person in need.  

Sing: Change my heart, O’ God, make it ever true; change my heart, O’ God, may I be like You.

Thought For Today: Who’s your neighbor? 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 29

“And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me” (1 Samuel 21:8-9).

Today’s Morsel:  No one would have expected David to ask the priest for a spear or sword while in the house of the Lord.  But I believe that David knew that God had delivered him from the hands of Goliath, and that his trophies would be in the house of the Lord.  And so he asked Ahimelech if he had a spear or sword when he saw his enemy, Doeg, in the house of the Lord.  David knew that he, being one of Saul’s loyal men, would report his sighting and whereabouts.  So David knew that he needed a weapon to prepare himself should he need to fight.  Thus he asked for a weapon figuring that if nothing else, the weapon of Goliath would be there in the house of the Lord.  Scripture says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5); “ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”(Ephesians 6:17); “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  Therefore, we also should take note that the weapons we need to defeat our enemies are found in the house of God.

Sing:  I command you, Satan, in the name of the Lord to pick up your weapons and flee, for God has given me authority to walk all over thee.

Thought For Today:  “You can’t defeat carnality with a carnal weapon” (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 28

"And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."   (Acts 16:20-28)

Today’s Morsel: When I see people that I haven't seen in awhile, I sometimes ask them about others we knew that were in the church when I got saved.  I’m saddened when I hear of the many who have fallen away.  But, as the title of a message I heard at Men’s Camp a few weeks ago, let me say “I’m Still Here”.   Somewhat like Peter told Jesus when He asked them if they would go away, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).  The apostle Paul would even say that he was “still here” after five times receiving forty stripes save one from the Jews; thrice beaten with rods, once stoned, thrice shipwrecked, a night and a day in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).  After all this, he could say, “I’m still here”.  He told his fellow labors, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).  Paul said nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39).  And after they had beaten him and Silas and cast them into prison and an earthquake occurred, they could say to the jailer, “We are still here!” Aren’t you glad that you can say "I’m still here!”

Sing:  I am determined to hold out to the end, Jesus is with me, on Him I can depend, for I know I have salvation for I feel Him in my soul.  I am determined to hold out to the end.

Thought For Today:  “I’m still here!”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 Jun 27

 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
(2 Chronicles 20:1-6)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that King Jehoshaphat learned from David was that prayer and praise brings victory.  He was also present when Solomon dedicated the Temple unto the Lord and heard his prayer when he said, “And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers” (2 Chronicles 6:24-25).  So he went to the courts of the house of God which Solomon had dedicated for His help.  And when they began to praise God, He fulfilled His promise to Solomon and God delivered them from their enemies.  We have many exceeding precious promises that God has made to our forefathers.  So, keep praying and praising God when you are facing circumstances, situations, and enemies that are bigger than you, soon those praises will usher in victory.

 Sing: Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever.  He sought me and He bought me, with His Redeeming Blood.  He loved e’r I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.  He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.

Thought For Today: Praise and pray your way to each victory.  (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 26

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. 

(2 Chronicles 2:1)

Today’s Morsel:  Where there is a determination, there must also be a desire for completion of what we determine to do.  Anytime we set goals for ourselves, we must determine to see them to completion.  But sad to say, like the father who's son said that he would go to the field and work yet didn't go, many say one thing and do another (read Matthew 21:28-30).  They determine, yet have no desire to do what they say they will do.  Solomon said that he determined to build a great house unto the Lord because he knew that his God was great (2 Chronicles 2:5).  And he followed through to completion and God was well pleased. And when he dedicated it to the Lord, the Lord was willing to put His name there.  Was God pleased because he built it, or because he determined to do something and he did it? I think the latter.  What about your house?  You are the temple of God.  Have you determined to make it a great house for Him?  Will He be well pleased to put His name there when you complete it?   By following Peter's instructions (2 Peter 1:5-11), it will be and a great house unto the Lord.

Sing: Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary, for You.

Thought For Today:  Determination must be accompanied with desire.  (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 24

"A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength."  (Proverbs 24:5)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about the military, is that you learn so much within a six-week period that you think your brain is going to be overloaded.  It’s amazing the amount of information that is thrown at a recruit within that period and they are expected to grasp it, not forget it, or they can fail.  From knowing who to salute, how to report to seniors, their uniform, dress and appearance of the uniform, remembering weapon's serial numbers, proper conduct, and so much more, it can be taxing.  But they grasp it and become wise and strong.  The more they know, the stronger they are.  The same holds true in the church.  The more of God’s word we know, the stronger we are as Christians.  And the sooner we learn and grow in the Word, the better equipped we are for the battle.  Most people who give up on the church, have little knowledge of God and His word.  Strong people don’t quit church because they know that greater is He that is in them than he that is in the world.  Career soldiers are simply soldiers who increased in knowledge.  The same is true for ministers, leaders, and seasoned saints in the church.  They are the ones who learned and grasped the Word and became strong soldiers.

Sing:  Deeper! Deeper! In the love of Jesus, daily let me go, higher, wiser in the school of wisdom more of grace to know.

Thought For Today:  “Career soldiers are just soldiers who increased in knowledge.” (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 June 23

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things I have decided to do this year in my devotion time, is look up in the Hebrew and Greek what the names of people in the Bible mean.  Many of them were given names that we may not be able to pronounce, but they have godly meanings.  I asked the church one night during Bible study how many of them knew what their name meant?  Many of them did.  Why did our parents give us the name that they did?  I’m still trying to figure out why my mother named me Rufus, which means redhead!  There is not a red drop anywhere on my head; lots of gray but no red!  Maybe she knew I would be chosen of the Lord (Romans 16:13).   Solomon said that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.  To be well spoken of is way better than riches.  We should be more careful to do that which is right and those things that will give us a good name than those things that will simply increase our estate.  Great riches often bring great cares with them, expose us to danger, and add no real value to a person's character.  A fool and a dishonest person may have great riches, but a good name makes a person safe, shows one as wise and honest, contributes to the glory of God, and gives them a greater opportunity of doing good to all men. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. The shadow is what you think of it, but the tree is the real thing.”

Sing:  No greater name than the name of Jesus, no greater name have I ever known, no greater name than the name of Jesus; You are the light to my heart and my soul, you are the light to the darkness around me, You are the only truth and the way!

Thought For Today:  Protect your name! (Parker)