FWD: Morning Manna for Apr. 21 & 23

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:15:35 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna for Apr. 21 & 23
 
 
HELLO AGAIN, DEAR PILGRIM:  
Well, it has come to my attention that I sent you the "Morning Manna" for  
Apr. 20 & 22, not for the 20th & 21st. And, the BPs and RBTTYs were for the  
21st and 22nd. So, please forgive this error and evidence of my advancing  
"mental maturity." :)) Please find the MM for Apr. 21 and 23 here. I do  
hope you enjoyed reading the one for Apr. 22 twice. ;)) Take care. God  
bless you!  
In Jesus' Unfailing Love,  
Bro. Tom  
 
Morning Manna (Apr. 21); BP: Jn. 20:19-25; RBTTY: Lk. 16; II Sam. 12-13  
 
April 21 “No Secondhand Faith”  
 
“But Thomas, one of the 12, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus  
came. The other disciples, therefore, said unto him, ‘We have seen the  
Lord.’ But he said unto them, ‘Except I shall see in His hands the print of  
the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand  
into His side, I will not believe’.”  
John 20:24-25  
Secondhand faith is better than no faith, but firsthand faith is best.  
Thomas.  
Down through the years since the time of today’s Manna this Apostle has  
been maligned and misunderstood for his words that night. He’s been labeled  
as “Doubting Thomas” for his pointed declaration and refusal to believe the  
others’ testimony. But, perhaps, we shouldn’t be so hard on him—especially  
when we realize that quite often we’re just like him in many ways.  
 
Although he isn’t mentioned in any other of the Four Gospels except for  
the listing of the Apostles’ names, this one—whose name means “Twin”—is  
definitely an intriguing individual. He was the one who said “Let us go  
that we may die with Him” when Jesus announced they were going to Bethany  
after Lazarus died (Jn. 11:16). This made him either a realist or  
pessimist—or both.  
 
Likewise, Thomas was also the one in the upper room who candidly asked  
“Lord, we don’t know where You’re going and how can we know the way?” (Jn.  
14:5)—to which Jesus gave the beautiful response of “I am the Way, the Truth  
and the Life—and no one comes unto the Father except by me” (v.6). And, he  
was one of the seven disciples who went out fishing after seeing the Risen  
Lord—so great was their shame of having forsaken their Lord (Jn. 21:2).  
 
Even so, his response to the other disciples’ claims in our Manna is  
the one most folks remember. Why is that? Because it seems to say “Seeing  
is believing” and is a refusal to accept things by faith.  
 
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, was Thomas asking for anything more than the  
other disciples had already received (vv.11-23; Lk. 24:13-35)? And, hadn’t  
they all been guilty of refusing others’ testimony as well (Lk. 24:11,  
22-24)?  
 
Why, then, are we so hard on Thomas?  
Could it be that his name (“Twin”) is ours as well—i.e., that there’s  
always a mixture of doubt and faith to some degree within us? And, could it  
be that Thomas was basically saying, “I’m glad you saw Him—but I don’t want  
secondhand faith; I want to see Him for myself” ?  
 
We should always be thankful for what God’s doing in others’ lives and  
allow their walk of faith to both enrich and edify ours (Jn. 4:39).  
However, how much better when we “hear Him ourselves” (Jn. 4:40-42) and can  
testify with confident, firsthand faith of what the Lord has done for us.  
Hallelujah!!  
 
Morning Manna (Apr. 23); BP: Jn. 21:1-14; RBTTY: Lk. 17:2037; II Sam. 16-18  
 
April 23 “On Grace Abounding”  
 
“After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea  
of Tiberias—and on this wise showed He Himself. There were together Simon  
Peter and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the  
sons of Zebedee and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter said unto them,  
‘I go a-fishin.’ They say unto him, ‘We also go with you.’ They went forth  
and entered into the boat immediately—and that night they caught nothing. .  
.Jesus then came and took bread and gave them and fish likewise.”  
John 21:1-3, 13  
It’s hard for us to enjoy the Lord’s Presence when guilt overshadows  
His grace.  
For 40 days after His resurrection Jesus appeared to His followers at  
various times and in various locations (Acts 1:3). Although we’re not told  
everything He did or said, it is clear that He had much to say about “God’s  
Kingdom” and their responsibility in furthering it.  
 
Although we don’t know how many days had passed from the time of His  
appearance to Thomas (Jn. 20:26-29), we do know He didn’t wait for them to  
come to Him; He came to them where they were and imparted to them great  
grace. And, thankfully, He still does the same thing today.  
 
We learn in today’s Manna that the disciples were gathered at the sea  
of Tiberias—also known as the Sea of Galilee—when Jesus appeared to them  
once again. We don’t know if He came walking to them along the seashore or,  
as before, just suddenly appeared in their midst. What’s important is that  
He sought them out to reinforce the reality of His resurrection and the  
importance of letting others know about Him (vv.30-31).  
 
What’s interesting is Simon Peter and six other disciples said “I go  
a-fishin’” after having seen Jesus again. Why did they not linger with Him,  
longing to spend every waking minute at His feet? Did He suddenly disappear  
again? Or, could it be their guilt was so great that just being in His  
presence and looking into His eyes reminded them of their having denied and  
deserted Him?  
 
Interesting speculation, isn’t it?  
Regardless, it’s clear their night of fishing was fruitless—or, is that  
fish-less? It’s also interesting that Jesus once again appeared on the  
seashore that morning in the early-morning light and asked, “Have you caught  
anything?” (v.5a). Their answer of “Nothing”. . .His words of “Cast the net  
on the other side”. . .and their catching an unbelievable amount of fish  
(vv.5b-6) are strangely similar to His first encounter with them some  
three-and-one-half years before (Lk. 5:1-6).  
 
Could it be this was intended to remind them of His power and their  
purpose in “fishing for men” (Mk. 1:17)? And, could it be He was showing  
them the futility of returning to an old lifestyle when guilt and shame have  
dimmed our vision and robbed our joy? Let us thank the Lord today for His  
“grace that is greater than our sins” and His desire to still commune with  
and commission us to do His will. Hallelujah!!  
 
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