Today’s Thought “School is Out for the Summer?” G. Ward

Acts 17:2

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

 

The Apostle Paul epitomizes how routineness becomes intentional when a heart desires to celebrate its KING. His past life involved a vicious way towards religion at any expense when some failed to observe on his terms – but upon being confronted by our Lord, who would change his heart, he’d devote himself to his Redeemer’s Way. We’d all do well to more remember who brought us from a vicious cycle of life once lived unto a freedom in Christ worthy to share; but if we think we can serve God, without serving His potential people; particularly that to which eagerly wait on a next motivational speech to spur my praise and to then think that’s enough, we’re deceiving ourselves. Instead, we must be willing to break our routine; because people need other people who know the LORD.

While the Word of God won’t explicitly say "break your routine," it does encourage transforming your mindset and breaking free from negative cycles; even highlighting the importance of aligning our lives with God's will, which may require adjusting our habits and routines. While routine can be beneficial for discipline and spiritual growth, it can also become a barrier if it leads to stagnation or complacency.

 

And Lord God our desire is to serve You, and while we heard that it’s impossible to do so without serving others, may we all be resolute towards Your command to teach others how to correlate with Your instructions in a world oblivious of Your regard, yet needing a witness and may our lethargy become proactive in desire to make Christ known with newest intentionality, because HE lives, Amen.

 

 

Today’s Thought “Walking the Mile” G. Ward

 

2 Corinthians 4: ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

Chapter 4 at 2 Corinthians should be a holy mantra for every believer; to administer all things endeavored for the glory of God. To bring honor to His Name via a perfect representation of His Word. A pragmatist is one who offers some level of practical application to life’s difficulties and he’ll often do so through a softening of potential blows this world dispenses and whereas believers are never called to mix their own ideas with the Supremacy of God’s Word, our message given by Him can offend the hearer’s expectations; but you must proclaim HIM sufficient to guide anyway. At verse 16 it promotes the greatest understanding is to know our time in earth is very short and to reach that holy destination prepared for you and me, must come under a proposed practice of now – so a blessed assurance that our Lord is our God exists now.

And Father God, we seek to ready ourselves through obeisance through Your commands and identify with Your changing us as we grow stronger in knowledge in where the Only Truth exists – in Your Word. May each of us represented on this line search out the magnitude of that love for the remainder of this week, for Your glory and through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Spiritual Meat and Potatoes” G. Ward

 

Psalm 1: ² But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night.

 

While spiritual slumps exist in believers, they should be periodic, but not as some have supposed, that is years. Followers of Christ must consider all the tender mercies provided, doing so intentionally; by breaking routine that allows a “quiet time” with a passage or more (with every electronic device off) to know it’s God’s Word and therefore HIM talking to us. If your meditations take you to an issue of adultery and you’re not married and deem it impertinent, you’re wrong; for an adulterate spirit can be found in any and requires devotion to Christ and HIS church. Moreover, if one is selective in that quiet pursuit, that is, only desirous of those melodic themes so inspiring, yet refusing correction, it can be synonymous with a daily plan of cake and ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner; to thereafter witness health woes and tremendous increase on girth. Instead, one should endeavor the whole counsel and rejoice that Holy God is desirous to have a love relationship with us.

 

Father God, our delight is knowing You as remarkably loving and patient with us; so much so, that when we turn from You, by leading ourselves, You generously hear our repentance with open arms. So, we thank You for such comfort with perfect guidance that warrants our daily, intentional pursuit. Your yoke remains easy and Your burden light, so we lean on Your wisdom and power, that guides graciously and mercifully, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Camping, Without A Tent” G. Ward

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

 

Imagine on today that you’re stranded in a forest environment and whereas you began that venture to find city lights before dark, darkness suddenly overwhelms you. Perhaps immediate thoughts establish how I should have grabbed a long branch of sorts becomes vivid, but you didn’t - so what was aggressive walking beforehand, becomes very short steps with arms extended, along with great fear of nocturnal reptiles, mountain lions and bears ahead captivates your soul(?). Moreover, it’s cool now and you’re needing a wrap that enables warmth(?). Altogether, this is indicative of what the Lord invites us to know about the dark world we reside in. It’s full of dangers (seen and unseen) and what appears to be light is just a mirage; for the shiny things are mere allusion that never satisfies. More than that, and for the believer, earth is not home; so, wherever we venture, it’s strange territory and if we come to our senses, we’ll know how our Lord provides HIS Light in us to discern the rightful path in such perilous times.

So, Lord God, we thank You for such a reminder – that regards You as our Only Blessed Hope in every matter of Life. May we allow the perfect spiritual illumination You provide to shine on others not fully surrendered to You; so, their pathway is made clear that insists apart from Christ we aren’t successful. May we say yes to Your guidance, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “We’d Be Better Off Without Him?” G. Ward

 

Romans 12: ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 

To live as Christ walked, won’t ever move quickly to retribution, but will evaluate mercy provided by the Only Excellent One (Jas.2:13). Moreover, and as many lack exposure to regard all men as applicable for all Christ endeavored in earth to Heaven, realizes, as time unfolded how we were chosen to belong to HIM and whereas many doubted our potential love relationship with HIM, we rejoice; knowing however, we’re not deserving. The role of the believer is said to be peculiar one for this reason (John 13:34-35). We must exemplify greatest appreciation for this unmerited gift, by persuading others (even those awakening to plots filled with hatred). For many included in the Holy Script were such; yet invited in the heavenlies (Eph.1:20-21). We, therefore, should never rejoice when those presumed to belong to Holy God fall to misery or demise. For our Lord Jesus would be exposed to great multitudes, seeing the vastness of wrongful opinions existent in many that would forsake an eternity meant in favorability and utterly weep, for they appeared “like sheep without (HIM as) Shepherd” (Matt.9:36-37).

 

Father God, we stand in awe of how uniquely Excellent is Your Way and whereas ours wrongfully hoard recall for some violating greatest character, we now remember what it took for our Lord Jesus to redeem our own soul; for we were part of those multitudes, but were yet picked out for no contribution of goodness, but solely for Your purpose. We bow on this day, to say we Love Thee generously, asking You to send us, because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Remembering the Music and Not the Message” G. Ward

 

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

Unity was/is the intent for Christ church; not an energy for HIS universal church as we suppose for this verse, but meant for the local fellowship concerning clear Truth, that is, the doctrine presented by Holy God unto mankind that says and does the same. For most fellowships and because so many are enamored with achieving more members than more Truth partial doctrine purported, delivers unbelief. The many self-appointed shepherds for God’s house fail to equip congregants for the work of ministry – by allowing programming to usurp what’s written. Instead, a proposed redemption of sin through Christ should encompass every message presented and disallow false motivations to eclipse repentant hearts that admit to godly sorrow. Moreover, there’s no need to travel onto a convenience store for participating in a lottery, just wait until Sunday morning; because the dividend is greater there and stated eloquently as absolute from pulpits (i.e., give generously and watch it multiply hundred-fold theorizing). *Without sound doctrine, beliefs and practices can drift into what is right in a person's own eyes rather than what is aligned with God's will.

And Lord God the chieftain of responsibility for every believer is to know Truth and we’ve witnessed Your command to be discipled as absolute, yet, many reduce Your will to words from their mouths that echo how Great You are and even that’s limited to a presumed favorability that denies anything negative. Father God, we pray spiritual endurance for every congregation embracing Your entire script, taught without manipulation; while keeping Jesus, our Lord, as the Sole Object of our faith. To HIM be ALL the glory! Amen.

 

 

Today’s Thought “They’re All A Bunch of Hypocrites!” G. Ward

 

Proverbs 27: ¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

 

Contrary to popular belief insisting on “opposites attract,” truly they ultimately repel. However, when common belief enters conversation, it craves more presence from the other side of dialogue and whereas our Lord’s illustrations of such is numerous, commanding any who’ve placed their faith in Christ to only link oneself (intimately and with vulnerable behavior) with those of like faith, it squashes indifference, so argumentative.

The joy of belonging to a spiritual fellowship is what I crave, because I’m then amidst many suffering by imperfection plaguing them (yet know it), even daily so, compelling encouragement not found in the marketplace by mere, polite salutations among many, who don’t desire walking alongside me when/if I share my trials and if they’ll answer, the hope given can be so profoundly temporal, even allowing a short escape from my miseries, and while that help was appreciated, my prior grief will surface once again, and appearing to then embody a multiplied misery.

 

And Lord God, You’ve demanded, we who believe, gather together on the premise of Your Word as a Perfect Guide; and when we encounter another believer weak, that we’d encourage the disheartened towards knowing of Your ongoing presence as inescapable. So, we run to You, for You created fellowship, indicative of Your loving us to the end. We pray that any praying would adjust immediately, by paying attention to other’s vulnerabilities and decide by patience and love to restore them unto the salvation You began in them, through Jesus, Amen.