Today’s Thought “Tags of Protestantism” G. Ward

Ephesians 1

⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. 

While it’s fine to belong to a local fellowship and to be proud of its caring members, there’s one intent for every congregation existent; to enable others to witness HIS church as agents of hope through the message where true reconciliation from sins exist. Our Lord’s “good pleasure” refers to HIS benevolent and gracious purpose in revealing that gospel message before HIS patience (through our inactivity to teach HIS commands and unbelievers failure to surrender to HIM in everything) runs out. Insofar as your congregation appears better than mine, the same Christ is its Ruler – unless you’ve not believed (cf. 1 John 2:19)? 

 

Today’s Thought “Not Much Time Left” G. Ward

James 1

²¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.

 

Perhaps on yesterday you were involved in a rightful, reciprocal discipleship gathering? Perhaps the discourse provided by one, or more, involved a minimum of 20 minutes of teaching from God’s Word (and hopefully not mostly motivational, but instructional – so that we may not grow weary in well doing)? If so, how have your meditations circumvented all you heard? Many say they want spiritual growth, but yet won’t absolutely rehearse, or further investigate all that was presented (cf. Ac.17:11), disallowing a compliance necessary to “know” God.

Excuses and the blame game won’t do; for the day provided is our Lord’s patience towards us. Let’s begin as if we never failed, for HE still desires a love relationship with you (2 Pe.3:9).

 

Today’s Thought “I Can Go to the ROCK!” G. Ward

Psalm 85:8

“Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.”

 

Good spiritual leadership compels any who will listen, to an unwavering, perfect guidance, doing so without authoritative tactics that pervade personal accomplishments in/through an immunity towards regression unto the subject matter presented (e.g., a look at me I’m perfect syndrome). Instead, and because they know all are with a propensity to violate best conscience, they’ll offer themselves as a prototype to follow, ONLY, as they follow Perfection (1 Cor.11:1); and whereas the script of these proposed leaders will soon be replaced by a better manuscript, they urge every listener to defer to ONE Authorship who’ll never disappoint and whose guidance remains relevant (beyond epochs and culture).

 

Today’s Thought “Internal, Spiritual Battery Pack” G. Ward

Philippians 2

¹³ For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

 

To seek reciprocating God’s love is never our conjuring, but solely because HE instituted this possibility in our desiring good will unto godly activity; according to what blesses HIM (cf. Eph.1:3). This spiritual imposition, won’t mean one should become lethargic in waiting for promptings in good works, but intentional pursuits in godliness (Matt.5:16, 28:19), as we encounter opportunity for the Light within to be shone brightly; so others may see that HE lives inside and desires to exist in/through some who never felt worthy of such. May HIS day presented find you faithful…

 

Today’s Thought “For HIS Glory, or Mine Own?” G. Ward

Acts 22

¹⁷ “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, ¹⁸ and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.

 

Many of us deemed “old school” find new parenting laughable because we know the invaluable effort from our parents sought preparing us for an apathetic society where there’s foolish promotion of self-preservation over selflessness. Moreover, in some families, we now witness several varieties on dinner plates, so as to accommodate toddlers to teens, along with witnessing skillful negotiating from the same, who relegate chores as their parent’s responsibility.

Our biblical theme witnesses Paul’s post-conversion experience, to then be specifically assigned by his Redeemer (our All-Knowing Lord). Paul argues a usefulness in Jerusalem, because he once embodied a zealousness similar to those opposers, along with having been devout a Jew (beforehand), as if to say, “Lord perhaps YOU didn’t know that about me, so I thought to inform YOU.” Can you say, “sometimes zeal can be pompous?”

“To Be Happy in Jesus, Is to Trust and Obey…”

 

Today’s Thought “True Devotion” G. Ward

Psalm 119:93

I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.

 

Grief stricken is the embodiment of man when exposed to having loved someone greatly to then witness their departure and whereas it remains overwhelming for a significant period, continued pain lessens, to become periodic bouts with sadness.

Faith however, won’t be victimized similarly, because it either can’t be dissuaded onto denying the objective of their meditative demand to believe (implicitly) in One who lives as the sufficient and needed Model, or, one can possess an ever-evolving kind of faith, unto a predominant prerogative; even searching posthumously for an example to follow and whereas that’s subjectively to be replaced by a newer, improved prototype, that pursuit can lead to great grief. Moreover, faith can also objectively be an achievable directive (found in systems – cf. John 15:5); but that too is with a temporal, potential disenchantment.

Altogether, and as followers of Christ, we know our Redeemer lives and therefore exist to fulfill HIS written script, so as to apply it to our desperately wicked hearts (Jer.17:9-10); with great supplications of “Change our Hearts, O God…”

 

Today’s Thought “Great Listening Skills” G. Ward

John 14:1

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

 

The 12 chosen by Christ – who’d initialize the spread of the good news of redemption (of sins)  by this Jesus, would be overwhelmed in grief as our Lord would share HIS soon departure (13:1) and whereas our Savior would instruct them from the beginning – to take nothing for such a journey (Luke 9:3), even leaving them further perplexed at what this meant and whereas HIS desire was to first model an exemplary dependence on the Father, HE’D teach them accordingly.

The journey would begin with thunder as they’d marvel in this Exemplar Leader’s majestic, yet humble authority, relying on HIM so profoundly, while looking to HIM for righteousness, that taught them how to correlate in a world so oppositional to HIS holiness and whereas this follow-ship happened for what appeared to be a lifetime (but only three years), listening to HIM was marginalized by their desire to have HIM as more than enough – forever.

We’ve written that you may know HE’S still alive (*Ro.10:13) …