Today’s Thought “In A Dark Room, With A Lit Candle” G. Ward

1 John 2

 ⁹ The one who says that he is in the Light and yet hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.

 

Many will endeavor such a passage with immediate dismissal, insisting they don’t hate anyone; but let’s journey to interrogate its meaning: If one exists in your life (whether personally attached, or merely familiar with) and enters your view and that same one is very opposite of what you perceive ought to exist through any individual – does your soul frown? To detest (i.e., hate) someone means to dislike with intensity (e.g., comparable to hating scotch bonnet peppers or rutabagas).

Biblical mercy is the Almighty’s withholding of the punishment we all deserve and HE dispenses it indiscriminately (Ro.9:15). Is that spiritual view, optional for our adoption as followers of Christ (*Jas.2:13)? Howbeit, that while we were detestable, we were loved by the Holy One, enough so, that HE’D provide Jesus as the Perfect cure, so we’d have connectivity with HIM – while we render other uncooperative souls hopeless?

 

Today’s Thought “Eternity, Set in the Heart” G. Ward

Proverbs 18

⁴ The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

 

Rendering mercy before judgment is always the consideration for followers of Christ, because we’re with absolute recall of a time before HIS salvation was afforded us and whereas our pursuits involved some earthen victories, most endeavors involved great distress. Moreover, our feeling a need for other’s compliance (i.e., civil and moral) unto an unfounded morality we’ll propose, is hypocrisy and therefore renders our opinions and perspectives as useless. Instead, knowledge of our Savior’s Walk (in earth) persuades the believer in finding another – trapped in insecurities, ensuring them of a Mighty Fortress, available to them.

 

Today’s Thought “Tempted, Like the Rest…” G. Ward

James 3: ² For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well.

 

Accountability to our new status as followers of Christ – should live to exemplify HIS model; exercising great carefulness in thwarting every avenue in subjective rhetoric from us, pertinent to the same evil our Lord Jesus witnessed in HIS era in earth. Yes, we see the injustice. Yes, we have opinions, but we more observe the script given us that creates a resolute answer concerning enemy forces (*Matt.28:19). Moreover, as we know our old status included being an enemy of the cross, that now witnesses HIS adoption of us, despite us (Ro.5:8) and whereas our interrogation of HIS Holy Word – testifies to how the vilest of sinners were also transformed onto being useful in HIS service and whereas all are/were taught by the Savior’s example to not expect anything moral from Caesar, or his compatriots, but to solely persevere in Truth (John 14:6), we digress…

 

Today’s Thought “The Whole Script” G. Ward

Acts 20

²⁸ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 

 

Dispelling Truth (John 14:6) is most assuredly the answer for what the world needs today and whereas critique of national discord is allowed, it must never circumvent great portions of discourses provided – because what has been continues, and is without resolution for man (*cf. Jer.17:10). There are however, moments of peace, indifferent from what our Lord deemed HIS peace, that keeps any on a quest for happiness, discounting what has plagued mankind, particularly after the first two fell for the Tempter’s regard over Holy God control (* which translates settling more for happenstance that lacks a preparation for troubles ahead, equaling immature thinking) and if our Lord’s equippers teach a dual reliance on Holy God and mankind’s systems, moral decay and contempt for eternal demands grows…

 

Today’s Thought “Textbook Training” G. Ward

Genesis 9

¹⁸ Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan. ¹⁹ These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

 

When any persist to purport race, contrary to our Creator’s intent (Ge.1:28, Isa.49:6), Who only created the human race and whereas those perpetuators of divisive regard even spew inability for some segments of society as incapable of achieving civility, along with inferior proficiency in educational matters – This Is Not Accurate Science, This Is Racism.

Support of this horrid ideology, makes any complicit, no matter their testimonials as to how they love Jesus. Moreover, to further argumentative divisiveness, on who our grandchildren marry (i.e., different ethnicities) was NEVER sanctioned, but only with believer’s compliance towards matrimonial compatibility in believer-ship (*Deut.7:3-4).

This foolish and unfortunate reality in racism has those appearing devout in Christ – equating political conservativism with Christ fellowship, when our Lord may have rode on a donkey, but refused appeals to Caesar regarding any political and social reform. SO, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Eternal life with our Lord is with an exclusivity, non-welcoming to that worldly view (Rev.7:9-10).

 

Today’s Thought “Impractical Belief” G. Ward

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Let’s be clear, the Devil is not Holy God’s opposite! As the Almighty created angels, Satan - is the chieftain of the fallen angels; he’s busy, but ABSOLUTELY INEFFECTUAL against believers’ submission to Christ, who ABSOLUTELY defeated the Devil’s efforts. If an enemy has been utterly defeated by a Champion, do you go and kick him in the head thereafter? So, why are our prayers to Holy God with a battle unfounded, that binds him along with those principalities? Have you not read? Yes, Satan is real, but Holy God remains ALL-POWER and not some. How dare any who propose to know God through Christ - seek so much talk to the Creator about another defeated(?)!

Efforts in praying eloquently and their sounding religious are more pharisaic in nature, than spiritually edifying and borders blasphemy (*Matt.23:4-11).

 

Today’s Thought “Stand in the Corner!” G. Ward

Titus 2:2

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

 

As the World Turns (*pun intended), our exposure to inaccuracies grows; that merely shares how we’re getting old and whereas that exposure has witnessed myriads of circumstances (both noble and ignoble – 2 Ti.2:20), along with sadly witnessing many depart from this earth, we’re afforded a contemplative review in how to best correlate with the time remaining (*Ps.90:12).

A voice exercising wisdom, speaks from where wisdom emanates, not subjective rhetoric (*Prov.2:6); including that which has been tried by the greater intellects and reformers of times past, to then think of their own twists in admonishing as more fruitful. Instead, and as any are afforded life (in a chronological sense), must pervade Life (in the spiritual, DUTIFUL sense) as being Christ and HIS eternal demands and exercise accordingly.