Today’s Thought “Before the Foundation of the World?” G. Ward

 

Romans 8

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

 

I, like you, love to praise the Name of Jesus. I marvel at how He could forgive me; particularly since I’m with periodic bouts with the flesh unbecoming of Heaven’s delight and whereas I’ve read these passages to indicate that my being owned by this Magnificent Savior has become the sufficient justification Christ rendered entirely by Himself for our benefit. He tells us that being His means no condemnation any longer. Condemnation equals a guilty verdict, along with the penalty that verdict demands. When He says no condemnation, it means no sin a believer can commit—past, present, or future—can be held against him, since the penalty was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer and no sin will ever reverse this divine legal decision.

The key towards greatest understanding however, rests with what it means to be in Christ Jesus. For every true Christian; to be in Christ means to be united with Him. This is not to say a mixture of our ideas along with His. HE’S ALL WISDOM – we’re not.

 

Father God, Your provision through Christ is remarkable and our awakening each day to such a reality must celebrate Your Name and whereas praise is great, it won’t disconnect from Your command to obey. So, may every true believer not become enamored with “no condemnation” without pursuit in ALL Your commands as our Leader Jesus orders our steps, Amen. 

 

Today’s Thought “Mission Forsaken” G. Ward

 

Psalm 119:30

I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your judgments before me.

 

Can we allow the majority to think their knowing portions of God’s Word, along with exercising as decent citizens, to believe that is the spiritual qualifier? Those who say they know the Savior are called HIS very own, to walk just as He walked and that investigation is both a daily and ongoing pursuit. Moreover, our Redeemer insists all know that “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” And why? It’s because there’s no righteousness in any - apart from full surrender, along with placing implicit trust in ALL Christ offered on one’s behalf – that is, the forgiveness of sins. And whereas the world cannot hear the Truth of HIS Word until we, who propose to know HIM – shares that Truth without fear and doubt – versus believing that we can praise our way in and out of knowing HIM, He’d tell us as HE instructed the Prophet Amos, “Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; As when a man flees from a lion and a bear confronts him!”

 

And Lord, it’s never what we can say, or seek to establish, for we’ll often think of the few things of our participation as rightful, to infrequently weigh every measure against Your Word. So, may our heads hang low in Your presence allowing You to be the Lifter of our souls; in view of all given by Jesus on/for our account; praying for every believer’s courage to ensure others will hear that Truth and whereas HIS Name is Jesus, we pray, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Night Owl” G. Ward

 

Matthew 26: ⁴⁰ And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

Jesus instructs his sleeping disciples in Gethsemane to "watch and pray" to avoid falling into temptation, highlighting that while the spirit is willing, the human body (flesh) is weak. This passage emphasizes the need for spiritual vigilance, prayer, and reliance on God's strength to overcome vulnerability to temptation. Those from our Lord’s immediate choosing would take for granted the Savior’s presence, after all, they would absolutely depend on Him in everything for three straight years and whereas becoming too familiar will/can witness contemptuous behavior, every generation has suffered. More than often, our Lord sought preparing them for His departure by teaching them how to correlate in this earth based on what they witnessed in Him – as He’d absolutely depended on our Heavenly Father. Although this transpired 2000 years ago, this remains relevant. In order to thwart being vulnerable to things unbecoming of our salvation, we must awaken to our Lord’s reign and rule of our lives.

 

Father God, whereas rest is vital to our existence, may our souls remain awakened to Your Truth so well, that our dreams are holy. In all we do our objective is to bless the Lord at all times and we’ll do so as we not forsake Your Word and follow practices that deny our inheriting Your eternal Kingdom. As we approach this weekend, may we not take off, but honor You through Your Word, in Jesus Name, Amen.   

 

Today’s Thought “Care for Others; Before Oneself” G. Ward

 

Romans 12:4-5

For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.

 

The church of Jesus is called HIS very own, for HIS purpose and solely for HIS glory and whereas we celebrate that which only HE could do, we must remain contained in HIS directives, never to presume what HE needs, for HE has no need of nothing. This era, no different from others (historically), has run on a tangent of individuality, so as to desire a significantly unique, yet authoritative word from our Lord, rather than assure others of a real, personal relationship with Christ, that enables them in greater works than they ever thought could exist. The diversity in faith is meant for selflessness, to never believe in earthen superiority among Christ’s people, but to celebrate differences in/through each of us that adds great flavor for HIS kingdom’s receptivity to HIS reign and rule. If you look for applause upon every endeavor in Christ, sit down, until humility enters your heart, even give what you deem worthy to share to the masses to another perhaps feeling less than, so their inheritance through Jesus is assured.

 

Almighty God, may we consider unity among Your many members as opportunistic to remember apart from You we can do nothing; while teaching it’s so good to know the Savior, depending on HIM in everything. May our individuality be indicative of our personal relationship with You, enough so, that it encourages fellow believers to stand amidst trials, for troubles aren’t lasting; looking forward to Heaven, where striving won’t be necessary – because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Taking It on the Chin” G. Ward

 

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

 

Pride of life can be mostly defensive and certainly sinful, keeping one with a fist balled up and whereas our Lord walked the earth HE made (John 1:1-3), knowing crowds were more enamored with all they’d pre-suppose He’d do, particularly since the predominant of HIS audiences were Jewish and severely disenfranchised amidst an Empire imposing great degradation and economic oppression towards them, Christ, our Lord, would yet exercise tremendous compassion, leaving HIS church for Heaven and granting us a similar peace unto endurance, despite societal triggers, so abusive. Moreover, at no time was HE personally guarded when insults and lies were spewed. So, may every believer exemplify HIS attitude, looking to others as we were found when called to serve, looking beyond every outsider’s indiscretion to know they need Jesus and we have the key to HIS throne room.

 

Father God, our minds were defiled in coarse assessment of others, forgetting the price our Savior lent to our deliverance and we thank You for this day presented to re-calculate that cost, by/through Your Word’s standard - "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” even placing others significantly before ourselves; for to know our Savior remains the greatest gift of all and HIS grace is more than enough. We pray for one another in that spirit, through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Setting the Table” G. Ward

 

 Galatians 1: ¹³ For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;

 

Whereas many have achieved an education replete with a varied subject matter, establishing depth of intellect, even receiving great accolades among men, our Lord’s selecting those for HIS kingdom onto Heaven won’t ever call on what we know, or where we’ve been to determine our usefulness. Moreover, it’s widely perceived that many exhaust themselves in efforts seemingly prone towards success, to then try the Almighty; and that presumption will many times finds a fellowship (to their liking) for a potential harvest, to what was dry ground (*cf. John 6:44).

Our theme addresses a group then and now; even using Paul’s personal, notorious past, as if to say he was the worst of sinners, yet, our Lord called him from darkness unto light; teaching us that our Lord will have mercy on whom HE chooses, because HIS Divine intervention remains a world apart from mankind’s devices. We bring nothing to the table set before us.

 

Father God, You remain the Host of every supper, even preparing the table, despite enemies all around and one such an enemy is our very own self, yet, You seat us, washing us beforehand, introducing the delicacies in Your Word and whereas that menu is overwhelmingly tasteful and rich onto endurance, may our running to You never witness our getting tired, as we find Your Shelter, entirely Sufficient, for every season; all because of Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Yesterday’s Mishap; Re-Visited” G. Ward

 

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

Wherever I go, getting there early is essential for a clown like me – seemingly suited and ready to exemplify our Lord’s attitude and whereas arrogance in a believer forgets the hefty price our Savior rendered and because I know I’m the most opinionated individual needing to walk in the Spirit versus assessing what’s wrong with everyone else, I’m so grateful to Jesus for granting mine own repentance (Ac.3:19). I’ve now more identified with what David meant in the first Psalm when he said, “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night” and whereas our theme on today concentrates on duties pertinent to believer-ship, I’m compelled in genuine kindness, not a conjured conciliatory attitude.

Father God, our lives can mostly exhibit a superficial attitude, entirely flippant, even through our greeting one another – to not really identify with listening to those in our presence, but more identifying with what we perceive we need and whereas You remain our Great Shepherd – we have need of nothing, while absolutely thanking You for another day’s journey to get it right – because of Jesus’ kindly consideration and pardon of our sins. May praise unto HIM be greater, Amen.