Today’s Thought “A Smorgasbord of Inaccuracies” G. Ward

 

Philippians 3: ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.

 

The many warnings our Lord provided HIS followers concerning false teachers, became the significant message of warning every apostle, along with generations thereafter of true, genuine and authentic teachers of Truth would share. We do so, even like Jesus and Paul – that includes tears, so significantly sad to see many distorting Truth among audiences, while being leaders themselves and whereas you better not tell them they aren’t Christian, because they deny the whole counsel of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, even estimating it’s not God’s Word, but a book about God, which ultimately shares that every opinion from man is with a right to interpret it accordingly – remains a farse. It’s apparent they’re troubled about what’s inside, having reduced God to inviting their pleasures, precluding God is without condemnation of sin, even granting permission for many to not worry when you violate God’s Holy standard, because everyone is prone to do so as humans; while regarding our God as tolerant (NO, HE isn’t! – 1 John 1:5) …

And Lord God, You cannot abide in darkness and have no part where sin exists and whereas You sent Jesus to stand in place of man, as all were found disabled to atone for their own sins, those who place their trust in this All-Wise, Sacrificial Savior are called to hate the sin existent in them, but allowing a new life in Christ to surface. May each of us rehearse that Truth and stand on the Words of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “The Cross: How Did It Work for Jesus?” G. Ward

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Let’s gain some quick context to what this means: James 3: ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 

Altogether, both passages merely mean that the greatest good and the greatest harm can exist in what you say. It’s bothersome to hear so many echo an unstudied nonsensical idea in being able to do what only our Lord did in speaking things into existence; we’re far too selfish to be trusted with such (Jer.17:9). Moreover, if our predecessors were endowed with such ability, they would have spoken freedom from working sun up to sundown. Our parents would have spoken financial equality, etc. There are some spiritually insistent in believing they can and they’re called witches, believing that the spells they conjure will work. Folks God made us to solely rely on HIM and believing HE’S qualified, trusts in HIS directives and causes us to watch our mouths, because as HIS very own, we don’t want any to become an emotional wreck based on harmful words from the mouth HE gave us, instead, our delight is to be known as peacemakers.

 

And Lord God, You speak to us in varied ways for our benefit and for Your glory and compel us in kindness, with great patience and whereas our Lord Jesus didn’t utter a word when great insults were given HIM, we ask that many passages in Your Word surface to teach us accordingly, so our newest spiritual countenance would shine brightly onto any whereby our encouraging words will present Your gospel to the glory of King Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “The New Welcome Mat, Un-noticed” G. Ward

 

Philippians 1: ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

 

Contrary to popular belief, the gospel has never been the welcoming message as many suppose. It’s not because of anything less than that to which it seeks to do – that is to change our hearts; conforming them to Christ’s image and whereas change is uncomfortable, sinfulness is often comfortable, because it embraces selfish desire and whereas our Lord demonstrated selflessness, even forgiving HIS oppressors, (particularly since they thought they killed HIM - despite how HE freely gave HIS life), having said at HIS highest point in agony, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” we’re called to imitate HIM. Moreover, He’d say, “a servant is not greater than his Master.”  Suffering for that cause (i.e., the gospel), is what the Apostle Paul reminded these believers.

False encouragement is disastrous, it seeks to take Christianity to easement, a freedom from pain and rejection and while Jesus teaches believers that all would be sent as “sheep before wolves,” particularly as carriers/dispensers of HIS Truth, preparing in HIS Word surpasses what man has to say.

 

Father God, the many trials imposed on us establish character that keeps us persevering in Christ; so, we welcome them, celebrating being equated with our Savior. And Father, we pray for the ones weak to resolute practice of faith, because of greater exposure to the world’s message that has them straining towards false motivations. May all our encounters embrace more Truth in Your Word, as we rest in Your care, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Without Eternal Implication” G. Ward

 

1 Timothy 6:3-5, “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.”

 

I don’t know about you, but most rooms I enter appear so loud; the perspectives of mankind are inescapable and numerous, along with being overwhelmingly heard; with potential ability to penetrate desired meditation about our Lord’s goodness. Perhaps some like me have been guilty of instructing the Lord on how He should go about working on our behalf even after we’ve been instructed to imitate the Savior’s, “not My will, but Yours be done?” Maybe you sought to inform God like I have concerning many things occurring in the earth, devaluing His being All-Knowing? No one seems to want to sit quiet anymore! We’ve understood our frailty, particularly when health fails us and certainly understand our limited knowledge; but our expressions more teeter-totter on a little knowledge about most things which lends danger for other’s continuance in the same. The room however can be disquieted, particularly when our meditations and prayers circumvent the Lord’s Way instead of receiving news at an instant with reaction unbecoming of Heaven’s delight.

 

Father God, we’re unified on strongest desire to Bless Your Name; however, we’ve not represented well, yet we’re fighting with a new determination that ensures Your will be done. So, Father we welcome another round through these disciplines that proves You love us and as the Spirit transforms us for Your glory. We celebrate Your presence that rehearses when we’re weak, You rise to the occasion as strong. Thank You for Perfect guidance, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Before the Foundation of the World?” G. Ward

 

Romans 8

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

 

I, like you, love to praise the Name of Jesus. I marvel at how He could forgive me; particularly since I’m with periodic bouts with the flesh unbecoming of Heaven’s delight and whereas I’ve read these passages to indicate that my being owned by this Magnificent Savior has become the sufficient justification Christ rendered entirely by Himself for our benefit. He tells us that being His means no condemnation any longer. Condemnation equals a guilty verdict, along with the penalty that verdict demands. When He says no condemnation, it means no sin a believer can commit—past, present, or future—can be held against him, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer and no sin will ever reverse this divine legal decision.

The key towards greatest understanding however, rests with what it means to be in Christ Jesus. For every true Christian; to be in Christ means to be united with Him. This is not to say a mixture of our ideas along with His. HE’S ALL WISDOM – we’re not.

 

Father God, Your provision through Christ is remarkable and our awakening each day to such a reality must celebrate Your Name and whereas praise is great, it won’t disconnect from Your command to obey. So, may every true believer not become enamored with “no condemnation” without pursuit in ALL Your commands as our Leader Jesus orders our steps, Amen. 

 

Today’s Thought “Mission Forsaken” G. Ward

 

Psalm 119:30

I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your judgments before me.

 

Can we allow the majority to think their knowing portions of God’s Word, along with exercising as decent citizens, to believe that is the spiritual qualifier? Those who say they know the Savior are called HIS very own, to walk just as He walked and that investigation is both a daily and ongoing pursuit. Moreover, our Redeemer insists all know that “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” And why? It’s because there’s no righteousness in any - apart from full surrender, along with placing implicit trust in ALL Christ offered on one’s behalf – that is, the forgiveness of sins. And whereas the world cannot hear the Truth of HIS Word until we, who propose to know HIM – shares that Truth without fear and doubt – versus believing that we can praise our way in and out of knowing HIM, He’d tell us as HE instructed the Prophet Amos, “Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; As when a man flees from a lion and a bear confronts him!”

 

And Lord, it’s never what we can say, or seek to establish, for we’ll often think of the few things of our participation as rightful, to infrequently weigh every measure against Your Word. So, may our heads hang low in Your presence allowing You to be the Lifter of our souls; in view of all given by Jesus on/for our account; praying for every believer’s courage to ensure others will hear that Truth and whereas HIS Name is Jesus, we pray, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Night Owl” G. Ward

 

Matthew 26: ⁴⁰ And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

Jesus instructs his sleeping disciples in Gethsemane to "watch and pray" to avoid falling into temptation, highlighting that while the spirit is willing, the human body (flesh) is weak. This passage emphasizes the need for spiritual vigilance, prayer, and reliance on God's strength to overcome vulnerability to temptation. Those from our Lord’s immediate choosing would take for granted the Savior’s presence, after all, they would absolutely depend on Him in everything for three straight years and whereas becoming too familiar will/can witness contemptuous behavior, every generation has suffered. More than often, our Lord sought preparing them for His departure by teaching them how to correlate in this earth based on what they witnessed in Him – as He’d absolutely depended on our Heavenly Father. Although this transpired 2000 years ago, this remains relevant. In order to thwart being vulnerable to things unbecoming of our salvation, we must awaken to our Lord’s reign and rule of our lives.

 

Father God, whereas rest is vital to our existence, may our souls remain awakened to Your Truth so well, that our dreams are holy. In all we do our objective is to bless the Lord at all times and we’ll do so as we not forsake Your Word and follow practices that deny our inheriting Your eternal Kingdom. As we approach this weekend, may we not take off, but honor You through Your Word, in Jesus Name, Amen.