Today’s Thought “I Owe, So, Off to Work I Go” G. Ward

Romans 13: ⁸ Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

The prefacing for such a verse involves governmental systems. Our Lord never invited our enjoyment unto such governance, just a rightful submission. Moreover, to regard God’s sovereign control is to know HIS allowances and establishments occur to bring glory to HIS Name (Ro.8:28). On yesterday, taxpayers sought resolving themselves to owing government and whereas it involved a last hour to file these taxes, complaint was thick throughout most hamlets. Yet, when services of sorts are required (emanating from these agencies), particularly that to which benefits us individually, we’re grateful. Again, we know systems can be an unruly task master, yet spiritual compliance should be our goal. This submission won’t stop at owing systems’ agencies, but includes intangibles to one another (Ro.13:8b); a hospitality, even when the day is somewhat overcome in trials. A believer’s daily pursuit in Truth, should determine, we’re no greater than our Lord Jesus; HE also endured similar victimization; yet, we thank HIM for a supreme example in how to correlate thereunto, never relenting in the goal - involving our salvation.

Lord God, may our eyes maintain a view beyond circumstances, looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus, to then determine we believe HE won’t leave us as indicative in what we’ve experienced many times before. May we rise to Your leading us as a present help in troubles all around and to know the joy of Your abiding in vessels so wavering, yet growing in spiritual fortitude in Your Word and because of our Exemplary Savior Jesus! Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Ritualistic Uncertainty” G. Ward

Romans 10:9-10

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Proclaimers of Truth are servants of this foundational gospel (Ro.10:14), presenting the Savior as One who died for the sins of man and per Holy God’s insistence as Sole Designator on who comes to HIM, we’re grateful HE knows our name (John 6:44). Our hearts beforehand, were clothed in an impractical approach to life, believing if we functioned in civility and hospitality, even believing in God, this would carry us to HIS bosom, to forget, “demons also believe” (Jas.2:19). Any faithful to salvation’s calling to fulfill, must consider total allegiance, in allowing Christ to re-build them, via a devoted submission to HIS reign and rule, with a daily, ongoing pursuit in all HE is saying (that is, HIS complete Word), with implicit follow-ship; otherwise, these prerequisites violated keeps any insufficient.

Father God, You desire our repentance and whereas Your lovingkindness and patience could end soon, may every believer’s determination awake to those needing Your lifeline; for great praise is linked with obedience to Your commands. So, we ask Your forgiveness where inactivity existed, along with spiritual awareness in our every step, all because of Jesus, our Lord, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “A Tight Fist is Connected to Unbelief” G. Ward

Deuteronomy 15: ⁹ Be careful that there is no mean-spirited thought in your heart, such as, ‘The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. 

Jesus would echo this earlier demand that recognizes the poor won’t escape our view and how necessary it is to give so as to satisfy their depletion. This subject of giving is always one more prone to subversion. In other words, many immediately adjourn to telling others what perceivably/pre-suppositionally - God really meant versus doing what HE says; for we still feel as if it’s our money (cf. Ps.24:1). The divinely constructed commands given Moses for the people inheriting a land so prosperous, that would deliver so many great monetary abundance, can be likened to our journey here in this strange land. We must remember, Holy God is at watch and whereas HE regards our blatant, wrongful interpretations as sin, even abhorring our foolish, habitual practice thereunto, that unfolds whether you and me have placed our trust in this Magnificent Savior or not, it’s always identifiable by what we do and not what’s said. If one in the same family has a need and we fail to respond accordingly, are we really walking as Jesus walked (*1 John 2:6)?

Father God, we’re overwhelmed in being called Your very own, even called to represent You in this posture imposed as the household of faith (Gal.6:10) and whereas there are many from the same brethren depleted around us, we ask that You open the eyes of our hearts that we may see and respond joyously. May the spiritual transformation provided us, unfold Jesus’ words that says, “it’s better to give than receive” and respond intentionally and immediately. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “What Comes Up, Comes Out?” G. Ward

Luke 9:23-24 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.

This is our Lord’s prerequisite unto those professing to know HIM as Lord; self-denial. This means objectively surrendering personal, selfish agendas and comforts to align all with God's will (SOLELY found in HIS Word). Moreover, it weighs our every objective before endeavoring plans appearing beneficial; by asking if these plans have eternal implications, including that to which will bless others with a proper, spiritual example for some believing that hypocrisy is rampant in the modern church. Many criticisms exist the more because so many fail to represent Holy God in all their ways and because we’ve fallen short in/through our dutiful response and whereas exercise is said to be with a better effect when there’s partnership considered, don’t forsake discipleship opportunities with fellow believers.

Father God, Your Word is our victory, because it leads us to the righteousness implanted by our Lord Jesus. We desire to walk as HE walked, even speaking in intonations that are in perfect harmony with the Truth of Your Word, doing so in love and encouragement. May any who believe, consider mercy shown to others as paramount, over complaint; that spurs great inquiry from some regarding how they too can have peace and may we offer them Jesus, our Living Savior. May HE be praised, now and forevermore, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay…” G. Ward

2 Corinthians 5: ²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Good Friday warrants our deepest meditations concerning all that’s been provided us. No man is with ability to approach Holy God because HE absolutely cannot stand in the presence of imperfection; particularly with mankind having been made in HIS image and given stewardship in HIS earth and upon our absolute submission to the Savior, we enter our Lords’ rest (Heb.4:1-7), holding a higher, redeemed status as children of God destined to judge angels even.

Our lives in earth cannot please Heaven apart from our Lord Jesus’ sacrifice (Isa.64:6). HE ALONE is the perfect Lamb of God, who took our sins unto Himself and whereas animal sacrifices were given historically, that effort had to be established yearly; but our Lord’s, only once – (*Heb.10:10-14). Today’s meditation should encompass - what shall I render, to this magnificent plan of redemption from the beginning, that now includes me? Truth demands we know that no sacrifice we’ll offer as sufficient and therefore warrants our proclamation of spiritual bankruptcy, needing a perfect Savior’s payment of our sin debt, ensuring all would cease troubling themselves in efforts of futility, by absolutely placing all our trust in Jesus.

Thank You Lord! Thank You for such magnificence! Thank You for blessing us with a Perfect Savior that allows our humility to establish others unto Your perfect plan for their lives also. As our Lord Jesus offered a one-time sacrifice as more than enough, may each of us (on this great day – Ps.118:24), embody the joy in a blessed assurance onto a spiritual reciprocal order, that proclaims You as Wonderful, Omnipotent and Merciful – desiring the surrendered souls of man onto Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Real Spiritual Preparation” G. Ward

Ephesians 1: ¹¹ In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will.

While many are stunned upon encountering disaster of sorts, even to ask Holy God why, it’s due to their lack of interrogating HIS others mentioned throughout HIS Word and whereas troubles visited those even more devout than us, the end of their story - found them more dependent on the Almighty than before. Trials are that way; they’re allowed to build our perseverance in Christ alone and not becoming overwhelmed by circumstances appearing disastrous. We cannot persist in an answer without trust of God’s Sovereign Control. HIS direct stamp of calamity imposed, along with how HE allows sorrows is solely HIS to consider and we’re called to trust thereunto. I want to encourage you on today, in not allowing a varied motivation from others, that only includes good things on its way. That’s a false message (*Matt.10:16-19,21-22) and won’t prepare you for the real world that hates us.

Father God, as Controller and Sustainer, we honor You as proud recipients of Your grace provided and know where troubles exist, Your presence in us is greater. The priority given for us as believers, one to another, is to stand alongside of those troubled, for ours will soon need the same. We thank You for every trial; knowing our spiritual character is furthered in implicit trust of Your Way and soon will deliver an eternity whereby no dilemma is allowed. We praise You, while anticipating seeing our Lord Jesus, praying Your will be done. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Heritage in Faith” G. Ward

Romans 12: ³ For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

This verse serves as an inflection point on who we are apart from God through Christ. HE is said to be the beginning and the end – that term, HE is Alpha and Omega, is indicative of the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. Before we were able to add or subtract in kindergarten, we rehearsed our alphabet; so vigorously, that even us old folks can recite it upon demand. The alphabet, no matter the language establishes knowledge of sorts; and whereas our Lord’s title enables our view that determines HIM as “All Knowledge” –  it insists our every presumption of ability more realize HE alone remains Ultimate Distributor in/through ALL we as believers seek to endeavor for HIS glory.

Lord God, our gratefulness in having been made incomplete without a Perfect Savior, truly blesses our dependence/allegiance on Jesus. So, we keep looking to HIM, grateful that HE knows our name and takes joy in guiding us. Altogether, HIS leading us is with comparability to a mother, clinching the hand of her small child in a crowded marketplace and whereas ravenous wolves exist throughout this world and because we exist as Your sheep, we thank You for never letting go of our hand; asking that Your endowment of faith in Christ surface in our souls unto usefulness in Your Word and because of Jesus, Amen.