Today’s Thought “Promises of Prosperity – Without Repentance…” G. Ward

 

2 Peter 2: ¹⁷ These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. 

 

This chapter opens with a thunderous warning concerning the messages of false teachers (cf. Ac.17:11). Thereafter, we’re given various examples of some who perverted consequences of habitual sin; even believing in an unsubstantiated pardon from Holy God without their repentance and whereas the Apostle Peter would record the Almighty’s unchanging judgment, these practitioners of mediocrity were more assured of eternal condemnation.

Wells or springs that look promising from a distance, but are completely dry - from our theme, describes a false messenger’s notion of freedom. Instead, each one proclaiming Christ as Savior, must spew righteousness from their entire beings and allow the Spirit’s transformation onto endurance; otherwise, what one thinks and says, remain futile attempts to gain intimacy with Holy God.

 

Father God, Your day presented allows greatest celebration to know we’ve been redeemed and should compel us to examine our lives against our Exemplar Leader-Jesus and determine, there’s no greater posture to consider. May we, Your learners, decide that what we know as worthy to teach and throw those struggling through indecision, truest resolution in/through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Community Activism” G. Ward

 

Romans 12: ²⁰ “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 

This enemy spoken of indicates any who oppose your conviction concerning something or someone and whereas its base is primarily conditional and whereas we were once enemies of the cross, to witness our Lord’s grace (i.e., unconditional), despite our hostility to be changed, another’s lack should uncover a believer’s hospitality that renders basic care – regardless to whether their change of heart happens on our watch or not. Human kindness has become more unusual than before and from the beginning was meant to disarm hostility and whereas our Lord teaches every disciple, you and me, to allow our light to shine unto HIS attitude while in the earth, HE fed multitudes despite their hatred of HIM, yet compassionately and freely gave.

 

And Lord God, we’ll ask many times, what shall we render and surely the answer remains, walk as HE walked. May we rise through an intentionality uncommon to man; beginning with love for the brethren of Your fellowship. It’s then that the others will know us by that love and crave that bond and may we proclaim we’re nothing apart from HIS redeeming us, escorting them to Your Magnificent Throne, all because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Business Card Distribution at the Church House” G. Ward

 

John 2: ¹⁵ And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; ¹⁶ and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!”

 

Whereas to be forgiven of sin is the goal met unto the believer by Christ, the Passover, commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt (i.e., During the final plague—the death of the Egyptian firstborns—God "passed over" the marked homes of the Israelites, sparing their children.). The temple court would have merchants of sorts taking advantage of a long journeying for the Jews, whereby goods and animals to be sacrificed would be sold, considerate of a light load proposed by many travelling on foot and by beast. Our Lord never suggested this selling shouldn’t exist, but that it would be fair. So, He’d use the whip to encourage animals to vacate those spiritual premises and absolutely shut down abusive selling.

Our spiritual institutions shouldn’t be a place of networking over worship and whereas many are involved in entrepreneurial ventures, worshippers should genuinely embody a total regard to be discipled, extending praise unto the One Redeemer, before blatant introductory ploys of becoming wealthy; for our Lord not being pleased may witness a table or two being overturned.

Lord God, may we all invite ourselves to a periodic evaluation in whether our deeds are integrous or self-centered and may our desire for more be considerably extinguished upon entering the worship space You’ve allowed, that all praise would be Yours, that lends a meditative resilience to stand during the week, learning a spirit of contentment, while absolutely dependent on You in every way and through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Bandaging a Dead Man’s Wound” G. Ward

 

Hebrews 11: Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old gained approval.

 

This great chapter of faith unfolds many patriarchs along with some ordinary believers who absolutely trusted in the Lord’s promises of a future hope. Verse 39 says that the many listed were greatly oppressed, persecuted and murdered for their faith, and did not receive what was promised while in earth. Moreover, it was said that they were seeking a country of their own (Heaven). We’re exposed to a false cultural expression of inheritance now; a totally irrational, un-spiritual view. Here’s why: Eternity weighed against 90-100 years can be likened to a quarter of an ant against all the peoples of the world. Periodic pain now can empty into an eternity with perpetual doom and torment, but for the believer, with the testimony of the many spiritual predecessors listed from our theme – joy and peace without suffering, along with face-to-face presence with the Savior remains the reward for placing faith in ALL HE said/says.

 

Father God, while we welcome that to which our Lord Jesus provided, a Home, without consideration of humanity’s efforts, others profess similarly, but fail to obey HIS commands. May we promote HIS entire counsel that includes ongoing discipleship for every believer; for in that reality, maturity to endure sufferings, understands Your presence faithfully abides with us. So, we thank You for assurance, praying Your will be done, In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Opposites Attract?” G. Ward

 

Judges 3: ⁵ The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; ⁶ and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

 

Whereas mankind has sought distorting the Truth of God’s Word upon what they’ve perceived it’s saying, a prudent investigation remains searchable (*1 Cor.2:14). Our theme on today witnesses God’s select inheriting the Promised Land and every endeavor would emanate from Holy God’s instruction and whereas HE insisted they’d utterly drive the Canaanites out of the land (Judg. 1:19, 21, 35), there was great failure and carried the reverb unto generations thereafter. Moreover, their blatant disobedience saw more with their eyes, even desiring to mix and mingle, up to marrying an unfaithful, idolatrous people, whereby they would depart from any remnant of faith in the Almighty as expressed at verse 6.

Our cultural expression of freedom forgets that when we call HIM LORD, means to acknowledge a duty to obey and submit to HIS commands and since HE bought us with an incomparable and humanly impossible price – HE owns us.

 

And Lord God, what a kind Savior You are! We welcome You into our souls, for we know Your lead is perfect. May we see the Truth of Your Word with the clarity that gives You all the praise, by complying with its every demand and may the joy in knowing Your presence overwhelm our selfish desire as we become more like Jesus than ever before. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “A Believer’s Assurance” G. Ward

 

Romans 8: ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Saul, an ambitious, most intellectual religious leader, instrumental to the early church’s ruin as a great persecutor is guided in the Spirit to write about God’s Love through Christ. Earlier, he’d be complicit in the death of Stephen, one of God’s great servants, yet he knew HIS Redeemer lives, so he’d devote his energies to extending greatest comfort to any with a past – unworthy, that would share hope beyond heinous sin. This writing would indicate that love does not depend on human goodness or strength; but rests entirely on what Christ has done. Moreover, he writes with total confidence that God's love for His people is permanent and cannot be broken by any force, failure, or circumstance.

A soul’s assurance on such an eternal matter, desires to bless the Lord at all times, even that to which proclaims worship, through obedience to HIS commands and having an inner attitude of humility, thankfulness, and sincere devotion; along with Treasuring and delighting in God more than anything else in the world.

 

Lord God, whereas Your Word records, "to whom much is given, much is required" has our souls more willing than ever before to use this spiritual posture to bless others with a witness in all Christ did. So, we seek Your every appointment, preparing our minds to look not on external measures, but to be contained in the love and mercy shown us, trusting in Your Holy transformation of any and praising You for the comfort in knowing that Your abiding with us shall never depart; all because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Blinded by the Light” G. Ward

 

John 3: ²¹ But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.

 

This verse is a culminating one concerning Nicodemus, one inquisitive and respectful of Christ, while avoiding being seen by the other religious leaders; particularly since he himself was one of the high-ranking members. Moreover, this visitation would be arranged at night, for to visit in daylight could have ruined his social standing or cost him his position. Nicodemus was enamored with all Jesus would perform, recognizing that He must be a teacher sent by God.

Our social and cultural rankings can carry a wrongful priority similar. We’re many times faithful on Sunday morning, attending worship services for one hour, inspired even, by messages in eloquence, while seemingly in control of the other 167 hours weekly given us.

Jesus explains that God sent Him to save the world, not to condemn it and whereas people judge themselves by whether they turn toward or away from HIS divine light; please know this, self-governance is never sanctioned by the Almighty.

 

Almighty God, those of us who live by Your divine light, do so in absolute recall of Your grace provided through Christ. We desire our every word spoken, along with our deeds to proclaim how great You are to dispense Your peace. We have joy because of our daily determinations to allow Your perfect lead, while refusing a practice insignificant to eternity. May You be honored through our surrender, in Jesus Name, Amen.