Today’s Thought “Throwing the First Stone” G. Ward

 

1 John 3: ¹¹ For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another.

 

Genuine love for fellow believers acts as proof that a person has moved from spiritual death into eternal life and whereas we know what our Savior endeavored to forgive our sins, including being hated while innocently proclaiming HIS Father’s plan from the beginning, our commissioning would be similar (John 15:20). Therefore, our clinging to that rugged cross (given us) involves an uneasy road ahead, requiring interdependence from other like-minded believers (Eccl.4:9-12) for periodic encouragement is needed (Heb.10:25). Soon, and because few are involved with the Truth of this spiritual quest, love for the brethren increases and believers exact our Lord’s demand, “By this (love) all people will know that you are My disciples.”

 

Father God, we’re here temporarily to reflect Your character as Holy and whereas You’ve granted us every spiritual blessing to do so, we seek Your blessing as we endeavor all it shall mean to thrive as representatives of Your commands while in a weary land, preparing each day in accordance to how our Lord Jesus endured and following HIS perfect example, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Simple Math” G. Ward

Revelation 21: ¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

 

Complete honesty and respect for God's message is the eternal demand given mankind. Here’s what that’ll mean; One must not invent new prophecies, or twist the text to fit personal agendas, or falsely claim God said something He did not and whereas the airwaves are filled with religious zealots invading Holy space by seeking fame and fortune; true missionaries maintain the words in Jesus’ preparation that says, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…”

Pursuing Truth without sensationalism lends great joy and peace, even establishing greatest confidence in HIS abiding with us wherever we venture, assuring that the HOME HE prepared for us, assuredly includes us.

 

So, Father God, whereas we know You as All-Wise and All-Power, our trust is established by the daily pursuit in Your Word where absolute Truth lives. May that faith grow exponentially so, as we proclaim to all the excellence You’ve allowed in our approach to Your Mighty Throne, through Jesus our Lord, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Mama Said, Eat Your Liver” G. Ward

 

1 Corinthians 10: ²³ All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. 

 

Legalism in a biblical context is the mistaken belief that people can earn or keep God's favor, salvation, or attain towards spiritual maturity by strict adherence through having read perceived Truth from Holy God’s script and whereas to know Jesus was/is the fulfillment of the Law, means to know the Almighty’s standard won’t accept futile efforts of man, so inconsistent in compliance, Christ, would follow those precepts perfectly, allowing our sweet communion with the Father (John 14:6). The apostle, having penned this letter through Divine inspiration, would share liberty in Christ, but not that which violates another’s potential to follow our Lord’s perfect way. For example, many won’t eat pork, because all their lives they were told it was absolutely forbidden and whereas they affirm the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, confessing their sins through repentance, but maintain some dietary constraint, perhaps our Lord will open the door for you and me to aid their inaccuracy(?), but if I insist on eating smothered pork chops in their presence, it’s become abhorrently offensive to them and may ruin a witness.

 

Father God, the attitude of Christ was intentionally compassionate and sacrificial and whereas we’re called to follow HIS example and lead, we’re deciding to trust in all HE administered. Our light within was given by the Savior to point others to HIM and disquiet the darkness having consumed those lost. So, may our every word and action, live in the standard You determined as absolute, as we joyously say, it’s more than enough and give freely Your highest standard to any deficient in knowing – our Lord Jesus paid it all (*Col.2:13-14)! Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Artificial Intelligence: The Hoax” G. Ward

 

Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” What will HE do? Verse 7 says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.”

Both verses compel those who’ve placed their trust in the Lord’s redemption to surrender our life choices and worries completely to God, trusting Him to handle the results, and remain still and patient instead of being reactionary. The demand for new and improved by the populous on most anything is the culprit for this recent and actual warning from A.I.’s best corporate visionaries. There’s a presumption – suggestive in their witness to the pace of this ingenuity moving far too swiftly and whereas most systems are/have become reliant on this artificial intelligence, even anticipating its ability to draw from all information ever recorded that may inevitably witness cancer’s cure, society, at large have crowned Mr. A.I., KING (cf.1 Sa.8:4-20).

From the beginning, the Almighty sanctioned mankind’s exploration of things helpful for this earthen journey, for HE is the Inventor; but as the only constraint from the forbidden tree scenario exists, with its enticing fruit as a clear warning, dependence on devices is the same that may soon witness - lights out!

 

Father God, from the beginning, You made the light and darkness, so, may we enlarge our spiritual perception of You as our Great Shepherd, who won’t leave us and may that mighty shelter You provide more understand how trials aren’t lasting and teach that surrender to another overcome in anxiety and fear, that enables trust in Jesus now and forevermore, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Opposite of Worldly Standards” G. Ward

 

Philippians 2:1-2

“Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

 

Whereas to differentiate between a Christian against another un-surrendered, can be difficult because many are very kind, compassionate people with, or without surrender to Christ. That kind of contrasting is insignificant to believers, because we know our light must shine brightly because of Jesus in us and therefore compels us towards a practice of an attitude like our Selfless Savior’s – no matter the pace of society or indiscretions of man. Moreover, our focus as believers is to absolutely recall how Christ experienced greatest oppression, yet never embodied a mindset of retribution that despised those persecutors, but meditations on how He’d soon give HIS life for them along with you and me and whereas Christ set the high bar in putting others ahead of Himself, that demand is now ours.

 

Father God, it’s difficult to conceptualize how Great a Savior we have until we adjourn to the sanctuary of our mindset and whereas that mystery for us is unfolded and we know of HIS love towards us wasn’t contingent on our correcting the many transgressions of Your Holy script, but placing implicit trust in Jesus, who satisfied every requirement. So, we say thank You for being so much more than we ever thought could exist; a day-to-day privilege to call You, Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Recruiting Sharpshooters” G. Ward

 

Deuteronomy 18: ²⁰ But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

 

While many presume to speak for Holy God, their words, many times, fail to echo what’s found from Genesis to Revelation and even when there’s quoting of such, context can be violated, that absolutely distorts its impact in Truth. Moreover, the sayer’s knowledge of so many impressed with their perceived eloquence, works vigorously to keep the masses confounded by intentionally finding passages befitting to their greed. Throughout Holy God’s compilation of Truth, great warning is given regarding trust of man; so much so, that true prophets’ prefacing would most always begin with the Lord says, inviting those listeners to potential judgment when compliance to HIS demands were violated; yet, many times, these warnings offered a proposed return to the Lord’s way. If/when a presumed minister of Truth is always sharing great things ahead (particularly when an auditorium may contain 50 or more), against God’s “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” the demand for these may not be as what’s given them from the Old Testament – to be stoned to death, but an imminent eternity in torment may be.

 

Father God, whereas more discernment is needed than before, many have to first decide that the Truth of Your Word is Life. May we who know the journey You provide for us depends on that Truth as any parched desires water. May our intentional witness more gather those vulnerable to trickery of the false prophet than ever before and then teach all Your commands, giving You all the glory and honor, in Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Straight Talk” G. Ward

 

2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

 

Whereas it’s said that “many are called, but few are chosen,” we’ve now become witnesses to that reality. It’s given in such measurement because of a demand from so many to be entertained by eloquence over substance, along with masses being embittered with so many struggles of times past – entirely unresolved and seemingly without answers so contrary to today’s jargon that says don’t claim miseries of sorts, instead, just speak your demands. Moreover, spiritual, historical realities from God’s Word are/have become the sole responsibility of the pulpiteers’ explanation and whereas those who’ve placed their trust in the Lord Jesus are told to weigh everything heard (Ac.17:11, 1 John 4:1), so many rather trust in these princes. Our Lord Jesus insisted we know that none are to be exempt from great sufferings of sorts (John 15:20), but more consider an assurance of HIS unrelenting presence. Therefore, we’re called to disallow every false teacher’s penetration of fanciful distortions of biblical truth, that lead people away from genuine faith in Christ and keep the vulnerable depending on them.

 

And Lord God, we need the Truth of Your Word to reign supreme in every mindset that unfolds a personal determination to build confidence in all You instruct and whereas we’re to extend honor to Your teachers of Truth, implicit trust belongs to YOU. We ask that You bless our pursuit in Your Word for Your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.