Today’s Thought “I Look Back and Wonder…” G. Ward

 

Colossian 1: ⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

 

Paul, the Apostle loved God’s church, so much so that he sought to thwart the pain other believers would/could encounter with trickery from false teachers sounding like truth tellers. He was in essence preaching steadfastness in Christ, not a conjured morality, nor defense mechanisms, just a perfect reliance on all our Lord taught; a kind of daily, personal interrogation. He wanted them to know his praying their success in the Lord would never cease.

Our praying for the saints has to be similar; for falsehoods are plenteous and one who has placed their trust in the Lord’s Way will hear from others initially appearing to speak the same spiritual language and therefore warranting importance to know the message of Christ so well, to never be deceived. To awaken each day is with that responsibility; for the attitude of Christ is putting other’s interests ahead of our own.

 

Father God, thank You for the warnings that allow us to see, hear and adopt more of Your Word than flattery from men. Knowing Christ is our determination to walk as HE did and HE awakened in celebration of all You desired. So, may we all determine that to serve You, must find another to serve, that they’d be anchored in Your Word, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Character: Seen and Unseen Behavior” G. Ward

Hebrews 13:  ⁵ Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

 

Whereas material possessions appear the conduit onto satisfaction boulevard, those acquisitions may soon become normalized and become a wrongful pursuit so obsessive, even allowing visuals of another’s belongings (with a higher price tag) to become an unrelenting chase – whereby one forgot all he attained is what the populous would love to have. Instead, the Truth demands we more embody what it means to be content in all things. That in no way translates complacency, which means there’s a lack of motivation to improve. Biblical contentment is an inward state of peace and satisfaction rooted in trusting God’s sovereignty, provision, and presence, rather than relying on external circumstances or wealth and whereas believers are promoters of the gospel of Christ, we owe it to any a proper introduction, then lessons concerning this spiritual actuality to whoever will listen to our Lord’s testimony, so they can envelope confidence in our theme from Hebrews.

 

And Lord God, we’re called to persevere in You, which means to remain steadfast, faithful, and obedient to Jesus Christ through life's trials, suffering, and temptations. May we, who’ve placed our trust in this King, overwhelm our souls with the Truth of Your Word, to disquiet every pursuit that lacks eternal value and live like citizens of Heaven. We pray for courage in every believer, that they would unfold the breath and height unto every charge from Your words, enough so to extend the lifeline to any. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 Today’s Thought “PLASTIC Surgery” G. Ward

 

Hebrews 12

² Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

We can often get entirely too busy with elevating bad examples in people that give us appearances of being good and according to this Word provided on today, it mandates we know how Jesus alone is the Only worthy view for mankind; even to the degree of asking, “How well am I doing now against all He portrayed in the earth?” His life embodied servitude; even dying for the vilest of sinners, offering forgiveness, then restoration. When God’s Word insists we fall short of His glory, it means that every human being—regardless of background, race, or moral effort—has sinned and missed the mark of God's perfect standard. Moreover, God won’t involve Himself into some kind of categorizing that determines the murderer as worse than the liar, while at the same time, He chooses to have mercy on whomever. We too must never seek to see the best external view in any, without offering them the substantive Lord of All as Perfect Redeemer – because outside of Him, no one is righteous, not one.

And Father God, there needs to be a rehearsal of these facts daily; particularly as we go and encounter others – looking to how our Savior’s interactivity in earth never compromised the eternal hope meant for man; marveling even, in how He’d use a religious murderer named Paul and a over zealous one named John and a two-faced disciple named Peter, to now thank You for desiring to use wretches like us. We praise You for every possibility through Jesus, Amen

 

Today’s Thought “Just for Me” G. Ward

 

Colossians 3: ¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 

 

I’m learning as a teacher of the Almighty’s message to HIS creation, to know it means to demonstrate what it means to have been chosen. Like any, believers are exposed to the fiery darts of life and so many characters and institutions are being influenced wrongly to make our lives miserable and whereas we’ve been commanded to give the dreariness of this world proper light, placed within our being from our Savior, we urge you – let it shine brightly.

There appears to be a contingency of a mighty big word called “if” and when I endeavor the Truth of HIS Word, it’ll always unfold our theme’s demand, along with those 11 verses prior to our highlighted thesis and if that could be given over to an interrogative synopsis for my own soul, God would simply say, “Gregory, never forget what I provided for you, despite your many failings and allow ME to hide you, so that I can be seen.”

 

And Lord God, this is my daily objective and when we allow Your shelter, peace with recall is on its way to blessing Your Holy Name as we serve others with hospitality and intentional kindness – because LOVE lifted us and whereas HE is the Lord, may our praise first embody obedience while singing the greatest spiritual mantra, Thank You Lord, for You alone remain Good, so we honor You, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “From Pain to Praise” G. Ward

 

Psalm 22: ⁴ In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. ⁵ To You they cried out and they fled to safety; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

 

While despair (i.e., lack of hope) can enter our room, God, the Comforter assures us of HIS presence (John 14:27) and whereas any era of man understands others existed before them, the emotional setback involving misery appears such a lonely, long road.

King David, the composer, is sickened by enemy forces all around and just wants peace. Yes, he’s the warrior, but is admittingly weak and weary and it seems the rescue of his experience of times past isn’t happening soon enough; so, he endeavors an intimate cry to the Lord and whereas the Lord is silent, David’s recognition of the Lord’s sovereign plan for man then realizes life includes both sunshine and rain and praises Holy God in allowing spiritual maturity in him to always seek shelter the Almighty provides, both in adversity, along with times of peace (cf. 1 Pe.5:7).

 

Almighty God, forgive our lapse to correlate with You rightfully; for the love relationship we have with You, meditates on Your Word so well to think of Your overwhelming presence as similar to those we see and while we have that same Truth that says, You’ll never leave us, our fear rises upon thinking improperly. We, like David, rejoice in tribulation incurred, knowing how it establishes best perseverance in You, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Praise Break” G. Ward

Romans 11: ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 

 

Humanity remains beneath Holy God no matter the academia pursued and whereas there are some now and of times past who were great, disciplined theologians and apologists, even these were compelled in an ongoing study of God’s Word (cf. Lam.3:22-23). Moreover, although deemed “accomplished” by man’s standard, these great knowledgeable ones, understood their smallness each time they’d endeavor God’s miraculous script, unparalleled, yet remarkably inclusive. I too have shared in the exhilarating emotional outburst in worship upon encountering our Lord’s unmatched Truth; enough so, to proclaim a similar sentiment of this Apostle’s worship - that insisted all know the necessity in ceasing to demand full comprehension of our Lord’s plan. Our knowledge is far too limited and no matter the credentials of man – inevitably, every knee will bow to the Almighty’s Absolute Supremacy.

 

Father God, we’re satisfied with You being so above us, that is in knowledge and holiness. So, we thank You for affording us a proper look towards a height and depth beyond measure that our boasts continue in how great You are, despite how unworthy we’ve been. Therefore, may each day witness our worshipping You; particularly as we gather in Your Word to unfold the incomparable mercy and grace provided us, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “A Prayer’s Construct” G. Ward

 

Matthew 6: ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

 

Our Lord Jesus taught these words of reverence to the Almighty to His disciples and the surrounding crowd in His famous message from chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew. His desire for them is that they’d reject performance-based, ritualistic worship and move towards a personal, genuine, intimate relationship with the Father. Their lives mostly witnessed the external standard the Pharisees and Scribes conveyed and whereas those religious leaders were impossible to impersonate (due to all their religious expertise), the efforts for the commoner maintained an intimidation that subtracted from a love relationship with their Maker.

Our efforts to satisfy Holy God’s highest standard – requires absolute submission to HIS omniscience (i.e., HE alone is All-Knowing) and whereas mankind fails to comply perfectly to that highest standard, our Lord Jesus became the sufficient sacrifice in our stead, imputing HIS own righteousness in us - upon our repentance of sin, that won’t ever contrast my sinfulness against others, but look solely to Jesus, then ask, how do I compare to HIM(?)…

Father God, we know this daily bread You offer nourishes our soul; so much so that we find it joyous to exist in Your shelter, never desirous to move away from that protection against seeing and wanting, but to know You’re all we need. May our every prayer circumvent more trust of You for basic, everyday physical and emotional sustenance as we venture to imitate the Way of the Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.