Today’s Thought “Can God Use Me?” G. Ward John 8 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Whereas the joy of marriage includes an intimacy beyond the scope of physicality, it’s what establishes trust of One who will witness (with tremendous care) most vulnerabilities in the fullness of this foundational relationship; that even looks beyond them (i.e., faults) and meets needs. Christ invited those disciples then (and now) onto this unrelenting reality; but if we (the bride of Christ) forsake such intimacy, allowing secondhand knowledge of HIS generosity that shares how much HE cares, trust in what HE says is marginalized. Many awaken to periodicals and spiritual songs others have written and sung; our Lord desires a love relationship with us (in a gracious, personal sense), yet so many train up in what they can see and touch (cf. John 20:26-28), rather than the terms of belief required by us unto HIM so supremely more than anything. I recommend Jesus and prudent investigation of HIS words (as an established practice) which builds faith, while a continuous search of only those perceived melodious portraits keeps you distant from ONE so near (cf. Ro.10:8).

Today’s Thought “The Sum of Contemporary Thinking” G. Ward 1 Corinthians 2 1 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. My study of God’s Word has awesomely revealed (time and time again) I’m nothing apart from HIS grace (cf. 1 Pe.5:5). Our Lord is the Maker and Sustainer of those who believe and we’re without objectives so unfamiliar to HIS demand (discoverable in HIS Word). I’m troubled however, in how any can know of our opinions before what’s central to our existence; particularly in view of its lack in eternal merit. Moreover, our being so inventive that formulates greater religion (*unsanctioned), introducing with demand (and because of a predominant thought), moral issues onto humanity, before Christ Sufficiency, can/will portray on any a self-righteousness; forgetting that the world is void of the Perfect reconciliation afforded us by Christ (and certainly not because we were good enough – Ro.5:8). Unbelief and doubt are worn proudly as the necklace of choice every time our proclamations won’t solely encompass words of eternality (i.e., encouragement as though those in our presence won’t live another hour). Shamefully, our adoption of perspectives (entirely philosophical) relies (with insistence) on systems more than Holy God. Altogether, it proves unfaithfulness, along with discounting sufferings that bombarded every generation of man (as if to insist from Heaven, we deserve differently). Instead, all must know us solely from the mercy shown through Christ; because our inheritance depends on that (James 2:13).

Today’s Thought “For Me?” G. Ward John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” While it appears a sudden shift for chapter 3 of John to begin with a meeting arranged at night by a chieftain of Pharisees named Nicodemus; who genuinely inquired of an even greater Teacher, Jesus – far more authoritatively superior than any man’s intellect could ever portray on others was recognized, that warranted a great question concerning genuine, unpretentious faith not found in Nicodemus’ sect (i.e., they were portraits of external righteousness, while internally corrupt) and whereas Jesus’ response was captivating, the cost for belonging for Nicodemus was too high, even threatening. He would have to renounce all he participated in, weighing every endeavor against the Truth of God’s Word. Moreover, he would take on a role unbeknownst to his religiosity and to do so would then become meekness (a receptivity in being owned by this Gracious Savior). Nicodemus’ surrender thereunto would demand his proclamation in newest identity at both night and day (*Ro.1:16). Surely, all these were perhaps not as challenging as the fear he presumed would follow him all the days of his life, particularly as he knew of first-hand experience of a wicked persecution from the same sect to which he belonged would be his (*Matt.10:28). It is written, that’d we know to not fear man, but to urgently and unabashed, “give up” while such a Supreme Love is within our grasp.

Today’s Thought “Cultural Anarchy” G. Ward Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. While the media opts in a perpetuated sensationalism for what exists in man’s heart (cf. Jer.17:9), even causing such anger leading to murder, peace has been given to believers to dispense liberally and in view of a most significant goal (i.e., to know Christ and to make HIM known) and whereas there’s no escaping the magnitude of information at a moments notice, deciphering “why” is only apparent to those who’ve searched out what they did to our Lord; understanding it’s an unfortunate visitation unto us (John 15:20). Believers however, must prepare to encourage others’ desire to maintain stalwart Christian character upon slippage thereunto; to not allow a temporal status of earthen priorities overwhelm their greatest spiritual commitment to live in objection to the world’s darkened plight and to do so with love and immediacy (cf. 1 John 2:15-17).

Today’s Thought “Watch Yourself!” G. Ward 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” What warranted this letter was great persecution/ill-tolerance of Christianity (people of the Way) and the Apostle Paul, the number one evangelist/teacher of that time, knew it best. His instruction that clarified Jesus as the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament, was proved and disciples grew; yet in the face of Truth many were defiant, even treacherously so. This portion of his letter sought to encourage their knowing that our resurrected Lord would return for them and also received their loved ones who either died of natural causes or were martyred for belonging to Christ (i.e., who confessed His Sufficiency to forgive their sins, along with absolutely dying to themselves and allowing His regeneration). As I endeavored to understand what Paul’s encouragement looked like, that study revealed a comforting warning to prepare others against plights of self-preservation (an anti-spiritual mechanism) and to absolutely walk alongside of any fearful in being perceived as belonging to Christ, particularly as so many others refuse to be owned and look so free…

Today’s Thought “With Many a Doubt” G. Ward John 3 1 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus’ curiosity insisted he’d go to Christ at night to inquire of the supremacy of His earthen status; particularly considering that his (intellectual prowess) pinnacled unto great regard from religion’s highest sect of that time (and perhaps throughout history). The professor’s engagement didn’t desire any to witness such an encounter, so he arrived at night; religious leadership despised Jesus. Jesus’ claimants were too authoritative (i.e., irrefutable). This meeting was monumentally ours to perceive, in that our regard for the “whosoever” of Christ’s discourse includes the poor and affluent. The common denominator for man remains he needs to be reconciled from his sins to know God (ONLY through a Perfect Mediator – John 14:6), along with understanding that apart from this mediation, we all can do nothing (John 15:5). Mankind’s attempts in formulating Empowerment promptings unto others violates believer’s commission to disciple others (*Matt.28:19), along with seeking to re-invent the only mediation that grants joy and peace; even falsely instilling in mankind a hope to perceive success rests in social posture with evidence in materialism. Moreover, it’s entirely opposite of the demand onto spiritual preparation that perseveres in trials and sufferings (*another common denominator of man – Jas. 1:2-4, 1 Pe.4:1, 2 Cor.4:17). “I came to Jesus just as I was, weary, worn and sad. I found in HIM a resting place and HE has made me glad” (i.e., EMPOWERMENT).

Today’s Thought “From Turmoil to Tranquility” G. Ward PSALM 13:1–6, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” Every predecessor of man has faced great trials, including sufferings up to departure from the earth. Many were overlooked and devalued. Some struggled all their life to rarely experience abundance, while watching others so seemingly prosperous. While it’s said that children should bury their parents, many buried their children. Our times now are with unfounded declarations of thwarting any of these actualities. Unfortunately, many of my generation have allowed these great misappropriations’ penetration that prays most anything perceived negative away; to forget it’s Holy God’s allowance: My child is cured, but another visits the mortuary. You catch a cold; I die of a debilitating carcinoma. Does Heaven know of our sufferings, or is man horribly ill-informed and won’t investigate on HIS terms? Was it Christ who warned us of a proposed threat similarly (cf. John 10:7-9, 15:18-21)? The populous wants to impose a daily dancing in a field of flowers mentality; the worse fear mongering and whereas the psalmist began so grievous, he concluded with trust of his Maker’s Way…