Today’s Thought “Drinking the Kool-Aid Part 2?” G. Ward

Matthew 24

⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. ⁶ And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 

 

Jonestown, was a remote settlement in Guyana established by the Peoples Temple, an American cult under the leadership of Jim Jones. Jonestown became internationally infamous when, on November 18, 1978, a total of 918 people died (cyanide poisoning through a Kool-Aid mixture) at the settlement (Wikipedia).

Jim Jones began ministry as a fundamentalist, witnessing tremendous growth as he’d pervade Jesus unto a people impressionable in charismatic presence vs. substance from their leader that ultimately led to their deaths and whereas our theme on today shares the Truth of God’s Word that cannot be thwarted, our Lord Jesus would teach HIS disciples thoroughly; particularly HIS soon departure, along with HIS return and whereas these more favored hearing of a return, they thought this process would be quick. Instead, The Great Tribulation period’s expression is given by Jesus regarding how any could know the time as near; HE’D teach those actualities in reverse order (Ch. 24-25). The tribulation precedes our Lord’s Millennial Reign (*Rev.20:6) whereby HE will be absolute governance (Isa.9:6).

ANY who seek to pervade on you - times and epochs of HIS return, even promulgating events pertinent (as imminent) are equally as confounded as those disciples then; particularly as our LORD still is speaking to HIS church (*who will be raptured before this Great Tribulation – (*1 Thess.4:13-18).

 To avoid these greater points in misery - “See that you are not alarmed” but prepare accordingly…

 

Today’s Thought “An Empty Pan” G. Ward

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

 

While most church fellowships are diminishing (*only numerically, not spiritually), many naysayers are seemingly confirmed in their speculative ideas so much older than they – that pervades, “all they wanted was your money!” The Apostle Paul’s day (more than two thousand years ago) witnessed the very same thing from naysayers that insisted he was just another greedy preacher promising blessings and whereas the Apostle’s discourse did include Holy God’s testament in how when sowing generously, would allow reaping in the same, he’d also be instructed to write that any should never give after exposure to attempts in coercion. His letter furthered how encouraged he was when those adherents agreed to support the Jerusalem church before and how the need hadn’t changed because some cynics said otherwise.

We must remember the Almighty’s Word supersedes every prognosticator of proposed deception, but remain absolute in dependence through devotion to all given by our Lord. There’s so much more grace to unfold, beyond our contributions, involving greatest joy to be called obedient, even amidst a perverse generation.

 

Today’s Thought “Love Suffers Long” G. Ward

1 Corinthians 13

¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 

 

The terms from the Almighty unto man are best for us; but when any propose that other manuscripts that fail miserably to unfold points in absolute resolve (i.e., eternal actualities) becomes considerate for some, it proves spiritual immaturity. We don’t need another religion. Believer-ship in Christ has seen no other match to HIS incomparable attributes and while some are on quests to identify the names of God as central to knowing HIM, along with presenting uncommon, presumed reports that subverts HIS work as sufficient, HE remains ONE, entirely indifferent from man, along with deserving supreme reverence for HIM being Spirit (John 4:23-24). A believer’s view of many who perhaps are on their way to identify HIS calling them (John 6:44) – shouldn’t exhibit great frustration with any without recall of all HE provided for them (*Jas.2:13), but should first pray our Lord’s opportunity for their witness (not testimonials of arrogance, but admitting how confounded they are in having been chosen), then prepared to share LOVE (looking beyond faults – 1 John 4:7-8), in a way that adopts others as family and that’s what it means to put away childish things.

 

Today’s Thought “Crab Legs on Thanksgiving” G. Ward

1 John 2

¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.

 

The mark of the believer in Christ Sufficiency is endurance; that is implicit trust in HIS Word and whereas there are many who’ve participated with believers within a local fellowship, they’ve presumed on Holy God’s justice to recognize their need(s) – outside HIS spiritual realm, even searching other manuscripts and periodicals (with fervor) that subverts the Almighty’s timeless plan for those HE made. Shamefully, others have become impressed with their knowledge base, which actually derived from an individual disgusted by anything traditional, so entirely dangerous. Then, there’s another segment, full of defense mechanisms – that pervade on any they’ll have contact with, saying, “all they want is your money and that’s why I stopped attending!” Altogether, these uninformed stances are answerable upon their soon departure (*Phil.2:10-11) unto our Lord and second chances are null and void.

 

Today’s Thought “Spiritual Metamorphosis” G. Ward

Colossians 1: ²⁸ We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.

Conversations so proprietary - that regards God’s goodness, serve as a great periodic reminder in how one’s focus should be established by HIS omnipresence and whereas what it means to proclaim HIM insists we make HIM known, which absolutely demands we teach those outside HIS spiritual construct of an only plan for life that completely satisfies; compelling believers to go (*Matt.28:19).

Our proclamations however, are mostly aspirational (i.e., lack immediate compliance -*Jas.1:22) and can be compared to our desire in polishing our furniture, or thoroughly cleaning vents and window tracks; we’ll get to it soon, which indicates six months or so.

 

^{Today’s Thought “A Better Plan” G. Ward}

^{Proverbs 16}

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Johnny is a 19-year-old young man with Down’s Syndrome and while employed at a grocery store, there was insistence from management that every employee attend a customer service seminar. They were consumed in improving their customer relations and whereas Johnny, in what he perceived was an insignificant position as a bag boy would attend this session reluctantly, he’d be challenged (delightfully) to do his best to encourage every customer he’d encounter. Johnny would go home thereafter, sharing with his parents how thrilled he was, correlating with his parents onto a way to which he could embody this encouragement and devised cutting small scripts of varied passages from the Word of God to hand to each customer and then wish them a wonderful day. The store had numerous self-checkouts, but their customer base would forsake speed of checkout to have an encounter with Johnny. We’re given the most excellent message of reconciliation and it assuredly remains the highest encouragement any can receive. May you find the Way (John 14:6) like Johnny did in allowing any to hear and see your surrender to our Lord and leave the wavering (temporal, i.e., politics, opinions, etc.) to the world (cf. 1 John 2:15-17).

 

Today’s Thought “Permanent Blemish?” G. Ward

Philippians 3

^8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ…”

 

To calculate the excitement upon so many endeavors towards being rich, along with being welcomed into settings appearing so noble, appears such a waste of time, until the joy in our Heavenly Father’s acceptance of my repentance and how HE allows my dependence on HIM in everything, is my daily meditation. More has become less, particularly as I assess “why” certain things may be fulfilling in contrast to the contentment in knowing HE’S my Shepherd and I have need of nothing, awaiting HIS distribution (and HE never fails).

Some may deem this posture a takeaway, even worried that HE won’t allow them to have things and whereas they cannot conjure up Abraham, Solomon or Job, their stories (written for our guidance) witnesses tremendous wealth provided by our LORD, yet these preferred that Holy God knew their names. May you keep pressing in the spiritual interrogations (found in HIS Word), so as to more establishes trust in the ONE desiring a love relationship with you.

 

 

Today’s Thought “What You See, Is What You Get…” G. Ward

Isaiah 9

⁹ And all the people know it, that is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart:

 

Our being comfortable in addressing all our needs, to then pervade on any how we made it happen, is seemingly a great American mantra; until one opens the eternal script provided man that can help him navigate his way through such presence in a temporal place. The term “gas-lighting” is this kind of arrogant manipulation (aforementioned), causing many to aspire to a posture that never delivers peace and we’re guilty of such when/if we’ll paint a picture of our lives as self-sufficient versus God-ordered (Prov.16:18).

Israel, through our Lord’s Holy script, testifies to this wrongful perception in self-sufficiency as acceptable; particularly as their presumed insights would fail, to then be owned by a heathen nation Assyria and whereas we appear as safe and secure, many nations (outside our borders) lie in wait…

People Need the Lord.

 

Today’s Thought “So They Loaded Up the Truck and They Moved to Beverly…” G. Ward

Joshua 24

² Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 

Rarely may any contemplate how Abraham was called to absolutely pack up and leave his home; to then, without hesitance go; despite not knowing which direction he was to endeavor, yet doing so because God said. It’s a picture for any who insist they know the Lord towards implicit trust of HIM and while many worship our Lord, some may forget that if worship won’t have a required effort to do, it’s not received (*cf. Amos 5:21-24). For a long time now, we’ve violated understanding why our Lord would pull Abraham away from the comfort of home and whereas the land to which he lived was so entirely idolatrous, Almighty God would set a precedent recorded at 1 Thess.1:9, ”For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God” *and whereas An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God – have you been guilty?

And Father God, ashamedly, we hang our heads low because we know we’ve had many idols, primarily ourselves; very particularly, each time we’ve chosen to follow our thoughts and whims, pursuing personal delight versus blessing Your Name for being a present help. As You alone are with All Wisdom and Power. So, may our concerted effort for this day presented repent, as we’re mindful of how great You are and how You created us - substantially less than, as we submit accordingly and through Jesus, Amen.

 

Today’s Thought “Praying for Leaders” G. Ward

Jeremiah 29

⁷ Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity.

Holy God’s own were placed in Babylon for irreverent behaviors and this land so unfamiliar created a daily trepidation among this populous. The Prophet Jeremiah insists these newest inhabitants understand – that borders (geographically) won’t disable the LORD who made the world and HIS presence wouldn’t relent, along with being considerably more than silver or gold.

It is written; to transcend time and our era needs a similar message that teaches sole reliance on our Maker. Socio-economics may change and people do the same, but our Lord remains consistently Faithful, “yesterday, today and forevermore.”

 

Today’s Thought “A Demand for Prosperity” G. Ward

2 Kings 24

²⁰ For it was due to the anger of the Lord that this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He cast them out of His presence. And Zedekiah revolted against the king of Babylon.

Babylon, the Great land, so mighty, would overwhelm God’s own; even its leader (Nebuchadnezzar) would impose his own relative to be king over Jerusalem. Altogether, there was warning beforehand (*Jer.27:9-11) from Holy God unto HIS own, but horrid, evil influence seemingly won and whereas there’s consequence – undesired by men, the Almighty’s Holiness won’t tolerate such blatant disconnect (Ro.6:23).

We celebrate a democratic process here in a strange land; a “by the people” stance and whereas they’ve spoken on both sides of a spectrum – meant to enable unity, sorrow, grips one side, while the other is content, yet reliant on another to deliver the whole onto pocketbooks with more than before, along with purporting a moral climate; while history reveals many thousands of years of spiritual anarchy – un-prepared for the Only King’s consequence. Pray for our Leaders…

 

Today’s Thought “Electoral Anxiety?” G. Ward

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

 

If one is ever perplexed in how rampant immoralities persist for our era – adjourn to God’s Word (through tenacious study) to witness how our Lord correlated in a society whereby abortion, homosexuality, racial disparities and dissolution of family existed in HIS time in earth also. Did HE gather HIS disciples and go to the Areopagus to debate issues concerning HIS Father’s business? What about appealing to the religious court officials (The Sanhedrin) unto best observance towards God’s laws? Perhaps Tiberius (the Emperor) would listen to reason, but was that our Lord’s determination? Altogether, what HE called us, HIS ambassadors, solely permitted implicit trust of our Lord’s Way; unfolding the ONLY resolute message of reconciliation to any who’d listen; then teaching them to obey HIS commands (never a civic duty, but a Holy God responsibility).

*The world is doing what they’re supposed to do. Will believers intercept(?)…

 

Today’s Thought “Talk TOO Much?” G. Ward

Psalm 118

²⁴ This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Self-absorption (i.e., consumed in personal interests) is an unspiritual demand (*Phil.2:3-4), even culturally accepted and whereas the believer should always have a preoccupation of the “Cross” – representative of sacrifice through Christ having given Himself for the cause of sinfulness in every one, our thanksgiving unto this day honors HIS grace and mercy towards us; not solely with echoes of how great HE is (although true), but with activity that emulates (Eph.5:1-2) how HE correlated in a world refusing to know HIM. If I’m BOUGHT with a price, who owns me?