Today’s Thought “UNITY” G. Ward

Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

The song that states, “when we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be” greatly signifies that until then, a preparation given us, cannot thwart sufferings (John 16:33). Our role as believers shouldn’t perpetuate notions that divisiveness is acceptable either (*Ro.16:17), even that to which seeks to substantiate moral fortitude through boasting of a political affiliation appearing more righteous than a lesser side; for Jesus, our Exemplar Leader – gave taxes to Caesar, along with compliance unto his laws, but absolutely/preeminently observed HIS Father’s reign and rule. I’m always perplexed on the unholy attempt to proclaim righteousness on a few things achieved from any (*Ro.3:10,23), to then forget the many failures of the flesh, entirely unbecoming of the Spirit realm(?).

 

Today’s Thought “Bordering Idolatry” G. Ward

1 Samuel 8

⁷ And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.

 

Predecessors to every nation endured great injustice, hardship of sorts and sufferings and much existed at the hands of those unruly and whereas this era is called to a similar endurance and whereas anger is spiritually permissible (Eph.4:26), it was never meant to teeter-totter on efforts guided by one’s own volition (Prov.16:18), but utter dependence on Who any say is their LORD (cf. Jas.4:1-10).

Every Empire from the beginning, sought peaceable resolve on their own terms - versus the Almighty’s demand and then there were many proposing surrender to the Holy One, while equally dependent on a leader for reprieve (*Ex.20:2-5). As Solomon would pray to Holy God to abide in the Temple meticulously built for HIM, our Lord’s answer remains – humble yourself, pray, seek and turn from wicked behavior and Divine healing and restoration happens (2 Chron.7:14).

 

Today’s Thought “Snowy Days” G. Ward

Matthew 6:²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This treasure listed involves things valued most – leading to the activity of desire thereafter, defining our hearts.

Most of our nation is very soon to be overcome by Winter conditions and whereas living in the South involves complete shutdown unto every district (even when there’s one inch of white precipitation). We all, no matter where you live, can/should plan ahead and yes, that certainly includes supplies for eating, batteries, generators, etc., but for any who understand the Lord’s love for us and because “being trapped” within home boundaries may be inevitable, why not plan a concise study with family on the sixth chapter of Matthew (before devouring all the snacks and watching several movies)? I’m certain that it’ll set a rightful tone of thanksgiving, enabling peace and joy (?).

Father God, we pray their success, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Inventing A New Manual” G. Ward

Isaiah 5: ²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!

Moral confusion and spiritual arrogance is/was the issue here and whereas thousands of years have passed since the Prophet’s message was written, unfortunately, it’s still relevant. Man is still estimating that his personal wisdom efforts matter, along with his vain philosophy - never to be displaced.

Any presumed value system imposed on earthlings (outside of God’s Truth – Matt.24:35), never was mentioned by any at their time of departure; yet, an eternity with, or without Holy God was paramount (?). My desire for any is that they’d be confident (Heb.4:16) in both the journey here onto Heaven, while remembering no one has ever been good enough (Ro.3:10) for such inheritance (*John 8:31-32).

 

Today’s Thought “Why Don’t They Do Something?” G. Ward

Matthew 22

 ²¹ They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

 

While civic responsibility is mandated (Ro.13:1-2), the believer is ultimately owned by Holy God, not government, and whereas our Lord demonstrated how any should correlate in this strange land, HIS preparation unto us insisted we live as citizens of Heaven – for ETERNITY awaits.

HE’S KING of any/every king and whether they acknowledge it or not, our compliance is demanded. Instead, the presumed believer of this era discounts all their predecessors endured (i.e., great sufferings), feeling a need to awaken the Almighty (who never slumbers) to earthen realities; but HE won’t be your genie in a bottle, even disgusted by such mistrust of HIS Sovereign Control of everything and whereas those HE loved (the Israelites) were rescued from Egypt, their travailing through dessert regions insisted on “milk and honey” before their arrival to the Promised Land, to be denied; for their grumbling was indicative of their hearts (Jer.17:9-10). HE loves us in the same, yet HIS justice demanded from finite beings is believably desired, until failure in recognizing HIS sacrifice is/can be mostly overshadowed in bouts with euphoria in a temporary space and time.

 

Today’s Thought “A Horrid Cycle of Unbelief” G. Ward

Judges 2:10

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.

To apply Old Testament realities to current actualities is certainly spiritually permissible. However, to hand pick these realities unto spreading what’s perceived as encouragement for this era may lack prudence (*cf. Ac.20:18-21).

Our theme witnesses Joshua’s death. He and Caleb were the only two from the original group (believably 2 to 3 million people) and they’d be instrumental in leading others birthed in that experience to the Promised Land. When/if we’ll leave out how blatant mistrust (i.e., doubting God’s Sovereign Control) would disallow many originals from entering, even causing a dire consequence, it can be synonymous to promoting grace without repentance kind of theorizing. Ultimately, new generations of Israelites, after the time of Joshua, "did not know the LORD or what He had done for Israel," signifying a failure to pass down faith and knowledge of God's works, leading to a cycle of disobedience and idolatry, serving as a stark warning about spiritual inheritance not being automatic (Matt.7:21-23).

 

Today’s Thought “A Believer’s Calling to Fulfill” G. Ward

Galatians 3

²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

Whereas the entire context of this passage (aforementioned) hinges on the subject matter (cf. vv.8-9) – salvation unto any who will/would call upon the Name of the Lord, idiocy from mankind feels intelligent enough to decipher this on their own terms, seeking to justify “who” may be called to pastor God’s church (an erroneous approach) and whereas every believer is given a priesthood that proclaims the Savior as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” may all understand - we’re all commanded as ministers of HIS to proclaim HIS grace. If you wait on a pulpit as a dutiful response, whereby your voice changes and your soliloquies are so captivating that the Word of God is marginalized (i.e., proportionately lessened), because your theatrics remain synonymous with any Broadway performance – LEAVE while you can (*James 3:1)!!!