Today’s Thought “No Mediocrity in Holy God” G. Ward

 

Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

 

Unbelief won’t always indicate atheism, but teeters on a foolish theorizing that says, “I’ll believe it, if I can see it” and whereas faith’s posture thrives on things not seen (Heb.11:1) and since God is Spirit (John 4:24), HIS demand is highest, along with indifferent from a worldly regard. HE alone is Creator and our theme on today, helps us in matters of unbelief; for every generation of man has witnessed aspects of nature UNCHANGED, from the beginning (e.g., A giraffe still eats from the treetops and a dandelion is yet a weed.). The view of things in nature can become too ordinary for mankind’s effort to speed towards more self-preservation, than God-controlled, allowing one’s contempt to miss what our Lord provides throughout HIS world – that is, an opportunity to increase in a love relationship intended with HIM through Christ and to that end, HIS tolerance is soon to end.

 

And Lord God, we thank You for so many examples in nature that unfolds Your awesome power, along with You never changing and whereas we who believe, marvel at Your faithfulness, we thank You for such a spiritual pause that affords us an eternal accommodation. May this invite all Your children to invite others to this reflection in accordance to the chieftain of demands given by our Lord Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “The White Picket Fence” G. Ward

Colossians 3: ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged.

 

Perhaps the metaphor, “white picket fence” emanates from an aspirational goal for the American family? Many of us from the “Baby-Boomer” generation were exposed to varied television shows where no one seemed to get dirty and wives were home-makers, preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner, to never be seen with a single hair out of place. That paradigm was given for every mindset’s adoption, until one sought to endeavor such a life, but found failure in every step. Moreover, those with lapse in best judgment could lend credence to an expression of old that says, “no one gave me a book” on how to raise a family, although many of those had great exposure to God’s Truth. Traditional values many times, ruled out the Way of the Lord; for the greatest manuscript was/is provided and in such the case where our theme covers familial regard that produces effectual peace, that’s equally subject to promote mature spiritual members, we’ll need to know, a new day exists to absolutely get it right.

 

Father God, our frailties have surfaced once again as we view Your perfect Way. So, may we depend more on the Spirit’s transformation of us through Your Word. When we hear, we must know it calls for the immediacy of doing what You demand. Forgive us, as we’ve asked for peace, partly considerate of the world’s standard, for You won’t abide there and may we resolve ourselves to Your perfect Way, Truth and Life, our Lord Jesus’ example. Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Listen and Act” G. Ward

 

1 John 3: ¹⁷ But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him? ¹⁸ Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

 

Salutations that include “good day” can generally disallow another sharing whether it is or isn’t and for the believer’s hearing, it should trigger how imitating the Savior is essential to our walk (Eph.5:1-2, 1 John 2:6). Preparedness is key. Our Lord, while in earth, awakened early each day with insistence on convening with the Father (Mark 1:35). Jesus seeking quiet time with God the Father, meant HE desired to not exercise in oversight with the least to the greatest, but offered Himself in excellent servitude. HE listened and then met needs. How dare any who have been such a recipient of our Lord’s mercy consider otherwise? To prepare, is to insist on our Lord’s appointments each day (Phil.2:3-4), forgetting about oneself; particularly since the Spirit has taken residence in us who’ve placed our trust in Christ. We have all we’ll need to meet that every spiritual demand, doing so with tender mercy and thankful unto every opportunity to serve Holy God, by serving others.

 

Father God, how excellent You are in presenting Truth from Your perfect script, that correct us in foolish efforts to be ordinary. So, may our benevolence rise; first to the household of faith and then to others, who You insisted would know us by our love. May our sacrificial praise, understand first – obedience affirming Your commands is precedent and then to believe is to do; remembering our Lord paved the way perfectly. May this day honor His Holy Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Foundational Lessons” G. Ward

 

Proverbs 1: ⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not ignore your mother’s teaching; ⁹ For they are a graceful wreath for your head and necklaces for your neck.

 

Whereas there was the outstanding commercial primarily shown at Christmas featuring “Jeffrey the Giraffe” of the Toyz R Us stores, that witnessed children joyfully singing, “I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toyz R Us kid” we can glean from it a timeless truth that ought to apply to every believer’s desire to remain in the grip of grace our Almighty King provides. For to be regarded as a “child of God” (John 1:12-13) demands our highest praise. Earthen fathers have lent providing for their children unto adulthood, but our Heavenly Father keeps providing without regard to our leaving HIS house. So, may we sing Jeffrey’s song, enjoying every moment of perfect coverage, while proclaiming HIS sufficiency to provide what is essential for life, strength, and faithfulness. May we be reminded that there’s strength in our weakness, for it understands we were made to be frail, so our total dependence would be on Holy God. God's power shines brightest when human strength, health, or emotional endurance runs out. Weakness is not failure; it is the space where God's active help takes over.

 

Father God, we thank You for abiding with us, despite our wavering soul’s demand to live on our own. We know every self-imposed act as doomed for failure, while knowing to follow Your precepts deliver joy and peace; as we are comforted by Your presence, even when the flames of life’s journey become overwhelmingly hot, we’ll still cry out our God is great and greatly to be praised. May this day given proclaim that, so others are remarkably interested to hear of a Savior interested in having a love relationship with them also. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Through the Good or Bad” G. Ward

 

Psalm 150:6, Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

 

There’s a universal summons demanded from Holy God’s judicious court that says every living creature praise HIM. Psalm 150 is the Final Doxology of all psalms culminating the litany of issue written expressly by at least 7 named authors or groups, with roughly 50 additional psalms remaining anonymous. Their troubles and triumphs were comparable to ours and whereas God’s resolve was their peace in the similitude of Jeremiah’s expansion of God’s word, “Call to Me and I will answer you” has now become our opportunity. Every breath a person or creature draws is a direct gift from God, making praise the natural and proper response. To praise HIM means giving God the honor, glory, and reverence HE deserves, placing Him above all other things or people and whereas Psalm 150 invites all to even put music to it, that won’t mean at every occasion, but understands the invitational regard from some, may witness those all around incited to do the same.

 

Father God, You alone are worthy of all our praise, so may this day more consider Your perfect peace than our trials and may our endurance rise to extend greater kindness through patience, overwhelming our judgment, by extending the same mercy You allowed us, that our light within would magnificently shine, to invite others in echoing, How Great is Our God! In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “TRIED and TRUE” G. Ward

 

Isaiah 43:11-12, “I, only I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And I am God.”

 

To be clear: Whereas Sarah would call Abraham, lord, upon hearing she’d be with child at such a late age and would say he too was far too old, she wouldn’t be irreverent, or blasphemous of Holy God’s title in the same, but would merely honor her husband’s lead. Our theme confirms such when the Almighty insists all would know that “no savior” exists besides Himself. The scriptures are holy, inspired by God and whereas believers are called to study its intricate prose, any doing so will note that outside of the many names of God that may witness some being called lord, or declare themselves as a savior, those words won’t be capitalized. So, we’ll need our Lord’s declaration to be sure in our hearing. Our God wants all (believers and unbelievers) to know, HE alone is SOLE Maker of Heaven and Earth; calling for those HE made to utterly reject any dependence on foreign gods or human alliances. His track record of rescuing Israel and us, serves as direct observation for Israel and believers now, that HE remains the God unable to lie; assuring those who’ll place their trust in HIM of a greatest presence that won’t fail.

 

Almighty God, Your record is considerably perfect and more valuable than all the silver and gold. So, following Your commands is becoming easier in every day provided. We’ll never let go of Your unchanging hand, even when troubles overwhelm our souls; for then, we have immediate need to be comforted and You generously keep providing. This access to You is granted by the ONLY Wise Savior that is beside You. So, we thank You for a mighty rescue in HIS Name, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Promises of Prosperity – Without Repentance…” G. Ward

 

2 Peter 2: ¹⁷ These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. 

 

This chapter opens with a thunderous warning concerning the messages of false teachers (cf. Ac.17:11). Thereafter, we’re given various examples of some who perverted consequences of habitual sin; even believing in an unsubstantiated pardon from Holy God without their repentance and whereas the Apostle Peter would record the Almighty’s unchanging judgment, these practitioners of mediocrity were more assured of eternal condemnation.

Wells or springs that look promising from a distance, but are completely dry - from our theme, describes a false messenger’s notion of freedom. Instead, each one proclaiming Christ as Savior, must spew righteousness from their entire beings and allow the Spirit’s transformation onto endurance; otherwise, what one thinks and says, remain futile attempts to gain intimacy with Holy God.

 

Father God, Your day presented allows greatest celebration to know we’ve been redeemed and should compel us to examine our lives against our Exemplar Leader-Jesus and determine, there’s no greater posture to consider. May we, Your learners, decide that what we know as worthy to teach and throw those struggling through indecision, truest resolution in/through Jesus, Amen.