Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 06:02:22 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna for Jan. 4 & 5
HELLO AGAIN, FELLOW PILGRIM:
Happy New Year! I do hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration and 2008 is already proving to be a time of "new beginnings" for you and your loved ones. Let's pray this this year will be the time for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us.
I'll be out-of-pocket internet-wise the next couple of days, so am sending you the MM for the next couple of days. I apologize for having to do it this way; however, as always, I pray the Lord Jesus is ministering to you through them. Take care and stay faithful and focused. God bless you!
In Jesus' Precious Love,
Bro. Tom
Morning Manna (Jan. 4); BP: Gal. 2:11-21; RBTTY: Mt. 4; Gen. 10-12
January 4 "The Altar-Ego"
"I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live—yet not I, but Christ Who lives in me…"
Galatians 2:20a
His is always dominate.
Through the years psychiatrists have spent much time studying the human psyche, behavioral patterns and problems, personality types, etc. Sometimes they’ve encountered those who suffer with what they call "deviant personality disorders," schizophrenia, manic-depression, social anxiety disorder, etc. And, one which has fascinated them, is called "multiple personality disorder."
Persons suffering with this emotional/mental malady sometimes can have personalities numbering upwards of 40, 50 or more that are completely different. Each personality manifests itself in a distinct way, whether it be in facial expressions or tone of voice. These personalities have sometimes been called a person’s "alter-ego."
There’s no doubt the Apostle Paul would be labeled with some type of psychological label (in a derogatory way) by today’s learned professionals who don’t know the Lord Jesus or His Word. He, along with the rest of the Apostles, would likely be termed "manic-depressive. . .obsessive-compulsive. . .deluded, etc." by those versed in the world’s philosophy and not God’s Word.
That’s okay. Even Paul himself said, "Let no man think me a fool—but, even if you do, I still want to boast about what the Lord has done for me" (II Cor. 11:16-17). And, then he went on to say, "It really doesn’t matter what folks say because I’m willing to be considered a ‘fool for Christ’ if that’s what it’ll take for others to hear what I have to say" (II Cor. 11:23; 12:11). Hallelujah!!
We can rest assured that’s what folks nowadays would call him (or anyone) who’d turn away from a comfortable life of leisure for the "way of the Cross" (cf. Phil. 3:3-9). The same thing was no doubt said of Abraham when he took his family and set out "not knowing where he was going" (Gen. 12:1-4; Heb. 11:8). And, we can rest assured it was said of Andrew, Peter, James and John when they left their family’s lucrative fishing business to follow an itinerant Evangelist named Jesus (Mt. 4:18-22).
Why did they do this? And, what prompted Paul to write what he did in today’s Manna? Simply because he was talking about our needing an "altar-ego." Read his words again:
"I am crucified with Christ." Notice those words carefully: "I—my self-centered ego—is nailed to the Cross with Jesus. I can’t crucify myself through New Year’s resolutions. It’s the ‘death to Self’ that can only come by inward transformation, not outward reformation or renovation. His ‘personality’ is being formed in me."
"Nevertheless I live—yet, not I, but Christ Who lives in me." Our "I am" gives way to the Great I AM. Our "self-worth" gives way to His Supreme Worth. Thus, it’s all about Him. . .being Himself in us. . .Lord of all in all I think, say and do. Amen and amen.
Morning Manna (Jan. 5); BP: Is. 45; RBTTY: Mt. 5:1-26; Gen. 13-15
January 5 "Look Unto Me"
"Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth—for I am God and there is none else."
Isaiah 45:22
The message has never changed: "Look and live."
The children of Israel had sinned against the Lord. Because of His love for them, He chastened them by sending poisonous serpents among them (Num. 21:6). Although this form of chastening may seem a bit heavy-Handed, the fact remains that sin always carries with it varying degrees of punishment and consequences. In their case, the God of Abraham decided to exact strong discipline upon them because of their continual murmuring, complaining and rebellious ways (vv.4-5).
People were dying right and left from the snake bites (v.6b). This led to a conviction of their sinful ways and a begging for Moses to intercede on their behalf (v.7). The Lord God heard Moses’ prayer and gave him a most unusual antidote for the snakebites: "Make a fiery (Heb. ‘saraph’—‘burning, copper-colored, bronze, etc.’) serpent and set it upon a pole—and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live" (v.8).
To secular-minded people nowadays this seems like some Biblical fairytale—some mystical "hocus-pocus," if you will. And, sadly, to many regular churchgoers the same is true, whether they’ll admit it or not.
They look skeptically at stories like the Red Sea literally parting and the two million Israelites walking across on dry ground (Ex. 14:13-22). Likewise, they have difficulty believing in the virgin birth, Jesus’ miracles, His dying on the Cross, resurrection and ascension.
Thus, we should not be surprised when today’s Manna is confusing to them—for their "minds are still blinded by the god of this world" (II Cor. 4:4) and they "cannot understand spiritual things" (I Cor. 2:14). To them, all of the above is spiritual gobbledygook.
But, to those of us who believe, we understand.
Just as the children of Israel had to "look before they could live" in the wilderness, so must we "look unto Jesus" as the only Source of our salvation (Heb. 12:2; Jn. 3:14, 16; 12:32). Only "in Him" do we find forgiveness for our sins. . .cleansing from our guilt. . . and are adopted into God’s family via the new birth.
Again, what must we do?
Nothing. Simply "look and live."
It’s an obedient look. It’s a trusting look. It’s a life-changing look.
But, we still must look to Him—not trusting in our own strength or schemes which produce reformation and renovation, not regeneration. Are you struggling right now, Pilgrim? Heed the call: "Look and live. Look and live. Look to Jesus now and live."
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