Today’s Thought “Naught of Earth Unmoved Can Stand!” G. Ward

Luke 4:38-39 Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.  And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.

Christmas, along with the season has me as a believer pursuant to the works of Christ. I marvel at His unrelenting dedication to God the Father, then mankind; forgetting about oppositional forces and Himself (*cf. Eph.5:1-2). It is written to impel us in the same and every consideration opposite violates the love relationship intended.

Howbeit that every case of sickness given Jesus immediately witnessed those victims restored without furthered visitation of procedure (i.e. prescriptions, treatments, etc.)? Absolutely yes! He alone is the Great Physician; but His display of power understood sickness, sufferings and death would always be in mankind. Those miracles were solely accomplished to display Holy God’s power onto proposed belief from mankind (cf. Matt.12:38-39). We, on the other hand selfishly use all HE did (death on the cross on our behalf - cf. Isa. 53:4-6) for our deliverance from sin to more suggest our potential sickness has already been conquered; but yet many of us still die therein. Whenever you encounter scripture with pause that defies perceived actuality, there’s no need to doubt what is written, but more embrace your finite position in earth against Infinite Wisdom’s best care for you without presupposition.

Today’s Thought “God Is Not Santa…” G. Ward

Mark 1:35 “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

Mark’s account of Jesus more sought to present Him as the suffering Servant along with His deeds. Moreover, the designation Christ embraced mankind and our need for deliverance from sin; teaching us the essence of sacrifice through praise and how it empties onto perfect obedience. It’s therefore incumbent on us to regard HIM our Exemplar Leader. That supreme leadership offers the most superlative precursor for sojourning through life in peaceable success and fosters greater soul development leading to dependence on what was shown and not just talked about.

While we’ve been more taught that Jesus is on the main line and call Him and tell Him what you want, HE, on the other hand modeled give the King of the universe all He demands…

Today’s Thought “The Mediocrity Within” G. Ward

Matthew 2:4

“Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.”

The conversion experience (spiritually) begins when one’s humble inquiry demands an answer and won’t relent until it’s found (cf. 1 Pe.3:15). It (i.e. conversion) can be best when lack of exposure unto church polity was their experience; making the innocence of inquiry more receptive to biblical truth.

How dare any considerate of the role as a disciple of Holy God’s construction allow a new convert’s exploration of the mystery our Lord presents (*1 Ti.3:16), to become compromise exercised as those same converts witness false tranquility from those deemed spiritually mature? Their (new convert’s inquiry) posture in unrelenting interrogation of truth should be led by us to more exemplify a journey in pleasure that keeps giving.

Today’s Thought “Escape Hatch” G. Ward

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

For the believer, the object of their faith is Jesus, no other will do. Intimacy spent with this Mighty King prepares every disciple for an incessant presence from others who’ve designated themselves a spiritual leader and these are evident by their forceful discourses without proper pursuit of the absolutism in God’s word (2 Ti.2:15). Moreover, they choose varied selective verses known to most, having rehearsed them and creating impression onto those lacking spiritual prudence by first heralding their titles and credentials vs. a humility that regards the Only Sufficient One. Our thematic passage on today is indicative of such warning, having absolutely nothing to do with the Devil, but the aforementioned (**cf. Jn.10:1-2). The necessary goal is forgetting yesterday’s inaccuracy by insisting that Heaven recognize me in my need to come to HIM wholly/holy…

Today’s Thought “Support Onto A Monarch” G. Ward

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

While believers are called to pray for leaders (spiritually and politically), theirs must be preeminently faithful to the King of every king. As a pastor I’m often asked by congregants where I stand on politics to which my response always shares that true resolve for every matter is solely found in Jesus. HE can take man’s impropriety, transposing evil therein to serve this present age. Moreover and altogether what did HE do? Did HE talk God and country? Did HE campaign for the emperor because that same emperor supported two issues relative to His Father’s agenda? You, human being, don’t have to awaken heaven to sufferings in earth, but must awake to His rule while having breath! Divisiveness then, remains divisiveness now and the cure is still the same and ambivalence to completely adjust to the Master’s way (particularly in that regard) reveals a lack of trust in His Sufficiency (incidentally, that’s called blatant sin). To know my politics AND/ALONG with my Redeemer never witnesses to a world needing Jesus’ forgiveness.

Today’s Thought “Awaiting Another Prophecy” G. Ward

John 6:66-68

 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.  So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

Heretics prey on the practices believers pervade on society, particularly during the lengthy Christmas season. It can often compel believers into defense mode, up to an insistence we vocalize the term Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holiday as if that will bring them to truth (* vv.59-64). Moreover, tremendous offense from believers happens when these same heretical leaders refer to the pagan origin of this holiday as if this is really a spiritual epiphany for any. In other words you’re telling me there’s no workshop at the North Pole?

The missing component is unadulterated worship of the only KING; who never sought personal pleasure, or defense for Himself, along with never rallying the troops for social injustice, compelling us in the same (Eph.5:1-2). Our modernity really doesn’t accept the words of Christ as the cure-all; we want to co-pilot to ensure an imminent crash (Isa.55:8-9).

Today’s Thought “Raised to Know Right vs. Wrong” G. Ward

Genesis 39:2-4 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. ³ Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.

Diligence in Holy God has become Heaven’s demand so that the world’s narrative of nothing shall befall me because all are presumably children of the Most High. Every patriarch of faith knew differently and our Savior Himself endured many sorrows along with abusive rejection. Our foreparents exposure to life never considered enjoining themselves to such songs as No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper, but more observed (contextually) Isaiah 54:17 as prophetic for Israel to which still is a future hope.

The innocence of Joseph never thought his own would sell him into slavery, particularly in a godless land. Moreover, his commitment to Excellence didn’t relent, but sought doing his best in a strange land. While God still rains on the just and unjust and whereas there’s the mention of prosperity in the storyline relative to material possessions, the real blessings from God is His never forsaking those whose reliance is solely on HIM…

Today’s Thought “A Voice In the Wind” G. Ward

Ezekiel 33:1-4

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, ³ and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.

 

The beauty in disseminating what “thus says the Lord” demands that any hearer not pervade their frustrations on the sayer, but the Author. Yes, I awakened to fooling myself, because the actuality is there are very few convicted or convinced of a storyline emanating from another, particularly when the messenger states it so authoritatively, demanding spiritual metamorphosis. It’s therefore incumbent on the sayer to re-state many times their lowly position via incessant recognition that all the information shared applies to every soul (including the sayer). Ezekiel, the prophet was regarded as the “watchman” and his calling to fulfill was never to regard his own power of persuasion that could lead others to a conversion experience, but to remain personally foundational therein; remembering God’s warning is His patience unto man (cf. 1 Cor.6:9-11).

Today’s Thought “Fables Accepted” G. Ward

 

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

 

I’m reminded on today of the ministry given me at our church. Each year offered opportunity for one or more seeking to discredit the authenticity of God’s word (cf. 1 Sa. 8:4-7). There was some periodical they read or a documentary viewed that convinced them of some ulterior plan and while their questioning first happened with me as Pastor, the same doubt continued whereas 5 others were exposed to the same sermon. Trouble for/in the local church happens within and the Apostle Paul urged his compatriot Titus to diffuse this poisonous possibility through special appointment of qualified elders (vs.5). The wholeness of this plan still instructs our today. It’s a readiness necessary for our family at the dinner table that refuses to pile on more doubt and philosophy, but offers authoritative reconciliation; reminding every hearer desiring a love relationship with Christ that when doubt arises (i.e. while endeavoring God’s Word), it’s not the inaccuracy of God’s word that needs questioning, it’s your unbelief…

Today’s Thought “The Way to Glory” G. Ward

 

2 Timothy 2:15-16 ”Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.”

 

We’re at an all-time low. Obedience is with a varied definition. Preachers are declaring political stances vs. truest reconciliation in Christ, denying unbelievers light unto their paths. Wrong is construed as right and children are forced onto their own determinations.

The Apostle Paul sought to warn young believing Timothy of a similar posture. Paul knew of his time as short, delighting in a protégé like Timothy. Unlike the straining of today from preachers, the pulpits then didn’t include the exorbitant lifestyles pervaded unto our era; instead the message of suffering was chieftain and still is (*cf. Deut.18:20). The gospel’s supremacy and relevancy is timeless, seeking to hide men from this perverse generation and it appears mankind’s insistence to be out front outweighs the demands from the Most High, making more agents in regression.

If/when your warnings lack the similitude shared by Paul onto the protégé in front of you, don’t consider presence with the LORD something to grasp. The grip of grace offered you and me on today, is the comfort for days hereafter whereby perfect peace exists.

Today’s Thought “Mercy Found Me” G. Ward

Psalm 31:19-22

¹⁹ How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
²⁰ You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
²¹ Blessed be the Lord,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
²² As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.

Stress kills. It robs us of joy and the constant rehearsal therein denies a verse in song that insists, “I once was lost in sin, but Jesus took me in and then a little light from Heaven filled my soul. He bathed my heart in love and wrote my name above and just a little talk with Jesus made me whole.”

Feeling unworthy is two-fold; it first is unbelief because the Best was presented us with a King who loves us despite our unworthiness and then it’s the essence in humility that insists I’m nothing without HIM. The shelter from the Most High will miniscule the agony of every point in indifference we’re exposed. Praise His Holy Name!

Today’s Thought “With Appearances…” G. Ward

Philippians 1:27

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

The gospel is the good news offering life forgiveness, Shelter from misery’s penetration and an eternity with Holy God through a reconstruction only HE provides. When any fail to prove their change that contrasts the opinionated person of old (along with their many perspectives) with insistence on finding resolution in earth’s proven tactics (i.e. only temporary) over the Most High’s excellence, it’s no wonder to witness such disunity among men! Moreover, it’s penetrated the church because many attendees are on their way to identifying what’s spiritually acceptable and others refuse altogether thinking the next one needs change (Phil.1:19).

Believers are called to live according to their confession of Jesus as Lord. In other terms, He’s my new Owner, a gentle Ruler and if I know Him I should act like it (cf. Ps.139:7-12)!