Today’s Thought “Ingenuity” G. Ward

 

 ^“In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.” 2 Chronicles 26:15

 

What exactly is modern? Our contemplations lead us to think solely in this modernity. Sure, we have history to study, but we often equate things of the past as antiquated. I recall (as a child) how exciting it was having a 26 inch color television. We thought the screen was huge. Now a 26 inch screen is typically the size of our computer monitors. It seems that every six months we’re encountering “new and improved” on what we’ve recently purchased (once regarded as the quintessential gadgetry).

Young King Uzziah desired magnifying Holy God in a way that his father neglected (cf. Ge. 12:1-3). I believe this humility exercised by this young king brought forth a wisdom enabling the invention of the first gun (2 Ch. 26:15). The NRA (The National Rifle Assn. – a conservative geo-political group) would be so pleased (Is there’s emanating from protection unto the 2nd Constitutional Amendment for the citizens of this land, or like King Uzziah’s; seeking to further Holy God’s agenda of theocratic rule?) When we seek to establish a theocratic rule from both the potential citizens and current citizenry of heaven, we make clichés like “Necessity is the mother of invention” into a better portrayal of “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Eph.3:20). Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Missed Opportunity” G. Ward

 

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1

 

I was an eleventh grader, falling in and out of love (as the wind shifted) with every pretty girl who smiled my way. There was one very particularly that I would have considered worthy of permanent monogamy. She was absolutely stunning! Moreover, she was obviously a believer in that her bible accompanied her throughout the day. I shared an American History class with her and was finally given a chance to invite her to become my potential wife. The dummy I am proposed a question to which she agreed to address (only if she could). You’ll need to know that my life was not surrendered to the lordship of Jesus at that time (although surrendered now, I’m still a dummy!).  We’ll call her Eve for the sake of my many high school buddies ascribing to this blog.

Gregory: Eve, exactly where in the bible does it say that one has to attend church services every Sunday?

Eve: (Turning the pages briskly, with obvious bewilderment on her face) Greg, I can’t find that now, but don’t you think you should?

Gregory: No I do not, thus my question… Besides, no one is able to defend their position that attends regularly.

Eve: (Turning her back on Gregory to never return again – the end)

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pe. 3:15).

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Preparing to Experience God” G. Ward

 

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

 

The days before Christmas were certainly the best while being a child. The greatest worry (concern) was whether or not I was to receive all that was on my list. As the Christmas carol (SANTA CLAUS IS COMMING TO TOWN) would supply, “He's making a list and checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or nice. Santa Claus is coming to town! He sees you when you're sleeping! He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”

That in a sense, is the essence of consecration. It’s an intentional agenda of constant introspection set forth that we may receive tender mercies from on High. Unlike the song, we’re never good enough, but HE is. Synonymous with the song, the contingency for His recognizing us, insists we bear good fruit (Jn. 15:5). Moreover, the journey is incessant, making us students for life (“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Php.3:12). Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Virtue Forgotten” G. Ward

 

“The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.” Genesis 24:16

 

The girl next door is presumably the best to marry. She is without obscurities that would reveal difficult beginnings. Moreover, the transparency in physicality has viewed her in both the ball room gown and work clothing, seeing beauty in every form.

We’re in a time now whereby the pursuit of simplicity is marred by sensationalistic ideas in acquiring what the next fellow has. Rarely is one contemplating twenty plus years later when superficial beauty begins to dissipate.

Father Abraham was old and soon to die (Ge. 24:1) and desired to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. His primary concern was that her virtue rested in Holy God’s principles. Wisdom, via trusting God, was Abraham’s Modus operandi ("method of operation") and his desire was seeing Holy God viewed in generations to come (cf. Judges 2:10), very particularly, his progeny’s surrender unto HIM.

What are we doing to promote virtue in our offspring (cf. Dt.6:7)? Allowing the world’s philosophical stance (i.e. “It’s your thing, do what you want to do!”)  to be infused on our young people through media promotion (i.e. videos = youtube.com, music, internet and television) continues to be antithetical to proposed virtue presented in Holy God’s word. Sure, while it remains impossible to stop illicit devices, it can yet be obliterated in the house to which I pay the bills (cf. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15)! Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Thought “Entirely Cyclical” G. Ward

 

“What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?
 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun set and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” Ecclesiastes 1:3-8

 

Every day is representative of second chances. It affords me an avenue of righteousness undeclared with the prior day. His awakening me should be entirely refreshing (cf. Ps.118:24), but is often the carryover of un-reconciled straits of yesterday. This incessant journey is certainly a tedious one and altogether symbolic of the lack of faith in Holy God’s word (cf. Pr.3:5-6, Mt.6:34, Php.4:6-7). God’s desire is that we resolve issues as if we won’t be afforded another chance (Eph.4:26).

Effective leadership exemplifies a tremendous ability in following. The Preacher (i.e. King Solomon – author of this ecclesiastical note) was sharing the effects of living unilateral of Holy God, regarding it as vanity (cf. Eccl.4:7-8). Being regarded in Christ should preclude an ordinary approach to life’s journey. Every assignment (big or small) pursued in HIM is extraordinary! Happy Thursday!