Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:02:57 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna for Apr. 6-7
HELLO AGAIN, FELLOW PILGRIM:
I'll be out-of-pocket the next couple of days, so am sending you two
days' worth of "Morning Manna." I do pray this Easter will be a beautiful
and blessed time for you as you celebrate Jesus' resurrection. God bless
you!
In Jesus' Matchless Love,
Bro. Tom
Morning Manna (Apr. 6); BP: Is. 53; RBTTY: Lk. 9:1-17; I Sam. 4-6
April 6 “Jesus, Our Great Intercessor”
“Therefore, will I divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide
the spoil with the strong—because He has poured out His soul unto death.
And He was numbered with the transgressors and bare the sin of many and made
intercession for the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12
Even now, at this very moment, He’s praying for us individually by
name.
There’s no doubt that Jesus was a Man of prayer. The Gospels are
filled with accounts of His getting alone with the Father to pray. So
effective was His prayer life that one of the first requests the disciples
made of Him was “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1).
Now, even on our “best days,” prayer is a most difficult spiritual
discipline. Distractions of mind and weariness of body so often hinder us
as we kneel to pray. But, no time of prayer is more difficult than during
those times we’re being assailed from without and assaulted from within.
This is especially so when others have hurt us through words and/or deeds.
Our flesh cries out against interceding for those who’ve inflicted such pain
upon us; yet, in our heart of hearts we know we must if we are to truly have
a heart like Jesus’.
Although Isaiah had no way of knowing the true implications of today’s
Manna, he knew the Coming “Anointed One” from God would definitely suffer.
His vivid descriptions of Christ’s sufferings cause us to vicariously wince
in pain even now. And, when we reach the end of the chapter and find the
words “and made intercession for the transgressors,” we can only bow our
heads in silent adoration and thanksgiving.
How could He do it—this Man from Galilee? It’s one thing to be quiet
during such painful mistreatment (v. 7); it’s another thing to pray for
those who are doing such hateful things to you! Yes. . .how could He do it?
Only by God’s Grace—the only way we can also do it (Mt. 5:44).
Jesus knew the shame, suffering and stigma of crucifixion long before
He was nailed to the Cross. He knew the mocking mouths and wagging tongues
of the scoffers against those who died in such a horrible way—how those
being crucified were “cursed by God” (Gal. 3:10, 13a). Yet, He still was
willing to yield to the Father’s will and the masses’ murderous cries of
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (Jn. 19:6).
While hanging between two thieves, the Lord of Glory prayed for them
(and us): “Father, forgive them—for they know not what they do” (Lk.
23:34). Never before had such a powerful prayer of intercession been
presented to God’s Throne Room (Heb. 4:16). How thankful we should be for
Jesus’ willingness to pray it! Hallelujah!!
Oh, dear Pilgrim, the Bible teaches us this same Savior is interceding
for us in Heaven right at this very moment (Heb. 7:24-25). Even when we,
like Peter, are deceived by pride and prone to sin, the Master still prays
for us (Lk. 22:31-34). May we spend some time in prayer today, thanking
Him for His love and intercession for us.
Morning Manna (Apr. 7); BP: Lk. 23:26-49; RBTTY: Lk. 9:18-36; I Sam. 7-9
April 7 “Lord, Remember Me”
“And he said unto Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your
kingdom.”
Luke 23:42
Others may forget us, but He never will.
One of the maladies of “mental maturity” (getting older) is
forgetfulness. The older we get, the more difficulty we have in recalling
names, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, etc. Although this can be quite
frustrating, we can resort to outside aids (e.g., making a list, daytime
planner, IPOD, etc.) to help us remember things.
In some ways, forgetfulness is good—especially when it comes to past
hurts caused by others unloving words and/or deeds. But, it can also be
pretty irritating or embarrassing when we forget simple things in life.
The story is told of a pastor visiting one of his senior adult ladies.
After chitchatting for a while, the young pastor asked, “Grandma, do you
believe in the hereafter?” Although he was expecting a response about
eternal matters, Grandma said, “Yes, I do, Pastor. Why, every time I go
into the kitchen I ask myself, ‘Now, what am I in here after’!!”
When the one thief on the cross beside Jesus uttered today’s Manna, we
can rest assured his request wasn’t a humorous one or an insinuation that
Jesus was prone to forgetfulness. A thousand times no! Instead, as he
watched and listened to Jesus, he realized there was something “different”
about this Man from Galilee. That’s why he rebuked the other thief when he
mocked Christ (vv.39-41). That’s also why he said, “Lord, remember me when
You come into Your kingdom.”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, aren’t there times when God seems so far away and
we’re tempted to think He’s forgotten us? Assuredly there are—for this is
one of the inherent frailties of our flesh. However, when we remember what
God the Father said through Isaiah in Is. 49:15-16, we realize He
cannot/will not ever forget us. Read them again even now:
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not
forget you. Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of My hands; your
walls are continually before Me (lit., ‘always in My memory’.” Hallelujah!!
From the time we’re born until the time we see Him face-to-face, the
Lord Jesus knows everything about us and longs to enjoy sweet communion with
us (Ps. 139; Mt. 6:25-32; 10:29-31). When we finally see Him, He will not
have to ask the aid of any angel in knowing our names—for He says “I am the
good Shepherd and know My sheep and am known of Mine” (Jn.10:14).
Sadly, such will not be the case for those who never entered into a
personal relationship with Him. The day will come when He will say “I never
knew you; depart from Me, you that work iniquity” (Mt.7:23). How sad will
be that day. Then it will be too late to say, “Lord, remember me.” Much
better to pray that now.
_________________________________________________________________
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