Today’s Thought “Is There Room for Another?” G. Ward Luke 17 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Even forgiveness from what perceivably is the church is conditional (and we wonder why so many lack faith)! Eyes are wandering towards another worthy in their limited estimation onto great criticism, along with rendering some hopeless and the preachers lead the way (*cf. Hos.4:4-6). Sermons are being prepared with castigations of “John Q. Public” featuring his dilemma in unreconciled sinfulness and the people are on the edge of their seats prepared to shout hooray! It’s no wonder the gospel (marginalized) competes with mindsets from many that determines church folks are the worse. Theirs can mostly look at the vilest of sinners versus deep interrogation of one’s own heart (Ps.139:23-24) and continuation thereunto that portrays this as acceptable violates confidence of being forgiven by the only Judge worthy.

Today’s Thought “Church Posture” G. Ward Galatians 5 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Many things regarded in religion can be the ongoing production from some attributing follow-ship (without challenge) thereunto as godly order and while they perpetuate what it means to be a traditionalist, even up to not being able to tell you where the rule emanated, criticism that refuses investigation is also furthering imprudent behavior (*2 Ti.4:1-2). Truest governance won’t ever be found in another manuscript (cf. Ro.10:8) and those insistent with sharing differently violate faith’s principle.

Today’s Thought “Conjured Obstacles” G. Ward 1 Timothy 2:4 Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. While many proposed believers have not been the epitome of the Christian standard expected (Ro.3:10), it more reveals a pretentiousness from those with claimants of pursuing the Almighty (i.e. their terms along with HIS) while observing the activity in one who’s supposed to be more faithful, determining (through a horrid rationalization) why it is don’t attend worship services; when the only view for mankind’s contrast is revealed through the life of Jesus our Lord, not imperfect men.

Today’s Thought “The Knife at a Gun Fight” G. Ward Ephesians 6 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Looking out with refusal to look within delivers a view whereby the cultural pervasiveness of abominable sin diminishes all/every transgression as culprit to Jesus’ great suffering for mankind and made possible our acknowledging His sacrifice to guide us at a continuum through a daily examination of His Word and whereas the warnings are numerous, those heeding them are not, but remain FEW (cf. Matt.7:13-14)…

Today’s Thought “Common Dissent” G. Ward 2 Timothy 4: 3 “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.” Warnings most certainly were provided by the Savior concerning times when Truth would be rejected by many leaving few to uphold the most excellent message that grants eternality. The apostles thereafter would never concern themselves with great numbers considerate of such adherence to this gracious message, but warn in the similitude of the Savior’s teaching. Now we, the church are in the age where peril in lack to conform onto righteousness has seemingly reached a presumed culmination with expressions like “we’re living in the last days” and while every generation perhaps thought theirs was the end (as they would witness the crucifixion and great martyrdom in the apostolic age), we’re merely called to preach Truth in every season of our existential stay in this strange land…

Today’s Thought “Yelling Fire, Where There’s None” G. Ward Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Those of my inner circle know me differently, compelling me to speak openly and whereas the many others witness my “being guarded” mentality can be deemed spiritual attitude disorder. I say that in view of every believer’s confession of the Lord’s reign and rule of our lives with an unmatched regard, portraying the highest, exemplary Love; whereas our insistence to be transformed (entirely) onto emulating Christ is a daily pursuit (Phil.2:1-5). More imperative to consider than a multitude of juxtaposed personality traits is allowing the Truth of God’s Word as our constraint and not another self-proposed diet whereby discipline is soon compromised because of a foolish mantra perceived that says “I can” which represents another wrongful attitude of arrogance where every prior generation of man failed thereunto (*Jn.15:5)…

Today’s Thought “Freedom Hall” G. Ward 1 Peter 2 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. There’s great presumption that all seemingly inside are safe, but faith is inextricably connected to obeying the One we refer to as Lord (my Owner) and every perspective place of worship’s visitation remains a by-product to our foundational confession of Christ as enough in absolving our sins. Therefore, assessing “who” may be included as a believer shouldn’t be the objective, instead, deep interrogation on whether my faith relies on forgiveness without obeying is searchable and if there’s doubt, fall on your knees now, believing HE placed you here among the rest of us falling short of His glory; to encourage your decision (particularly as you’ve asked Him to forgive your every sin) to transform your soul in accordance to what’s written.