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.

 

Today’s Thought “Stop, Drop and Roll” G. Ward

 

Proverbs 15:1, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

 

Text messaging is positively phenomenal until one obtains a false confidence that allows words spelled out that one wouldn’t ordinarily be vocalizing if an individual is in their presence and whereas this confidence through text expresses how violated he or she feels, the language offends the receiver and everyone thereafter has snow-balled unto anger mountain.

Believers however, are compelled to a meditative process before answering what may be perceived as insult to their intelligence, or blatant mean-spiritedness from another. Their hesitance to respond should never be interpreted as weakness, but best reliance on ONE Savior who endured insults and greatest abuse while innocent of any indiscretion and thereafter died in our stead. HIS resurrection now determines we’re with HIS perfect example to follow.

 

Father God, we pray for one another in this most difficult way to address offenses; for to obey, indicates gratitude for all our Suffering Savior supplied. So, may our pause before responding to any, consider our eternal status and embody Your will as it is in Heaven, our home, as sojourners in earth, absolutely belonging to You, in word and deed. All because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Merciful: A Reasonable Attribute” G. Ward

 

Titus 3: ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

 

A believer’s rejection of another must be carefully in tune to their own yesterday; particularly that to which won’t compare oneself with a host of other bad actors, but assess how well I’ve imitated the ONE who redeemed me from my every indiscretion, despite my continued failings and while I was unkind, unloving and blatantly rebellious. Perhaps then, my actions will demonstrably and compassionately look beyond faults in others as was shown to me by our Eternal King(?).

 

Holy God, we marvel in Your Word. For it guides us perfectly and whereas the Spirit allows our understanding, enough so to correct us, we welcome that change. Our greatest need to proclaim Your generosity to another beleaguered by ongoing troubles that keeps them broken compels us, Your called out ones – to introduce the greatest cure offered mankind, Jesus our Lord; teaching them how HE continues to love those HE made and desires a love relationship with any who’ll place their trust in HIM. We thank You for such a charge to recall – through all our Savior demonstrated. To HIM be the glory, Amen.