Ryan's takeaway

The cross was not an emergency plan given by God when everything else had failed. It is part of the very life of God. The life of Christ did not change the attitude of God toward us. As if God hated us that He gave His only son to die. It was by God that Jesus was sent to the world. The cross was and is a window in time allowing a man to see the suffering love which was and is and always will be in the heart of God. To see the cross is to look into the deepest parts of God’s heart and begin to see what eternal love is for sinners who do not deserve it.

To see the cross is to understand the type of people we were and still are and the God he always was. To see the cross is look past my suffering and truly see His sovereignty.

Acts 2:22-36

God chooses not for the pleasure of man but for the purpose of eternity. “You did not choose me,” said Jesus, “but I chose you". The doctrine of grace runs through the scriptures like a river of enlightenment. There is a promise that the one who calls provides, but we must not forget that these promises and this purpose are not for our own. May our focus and attention be not on the blessings alone, but on the great privilege of serving for His glorification. From our family to our finances, churches to businesses, may we remember that the calling is for a cause, far greater than ours, for a man is not what he has made himself, but what God has made him be.

Colossians 1:1

There is a hope in which the believer can depend upon that comes from God and God alone. It is through this that we can truly understand the power of the incorruptible seed. Though time may change, and things decay, eventually dying, we can hold on to the seed that will remain. A seed that sustains through every battle, every trial that life will bring. The seed of God, through the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, projects us into eternity. It is with this hope that the rebirth removes all fear. May our hope today and all we have been called to accomplish, be founded upon the seed of God.

1 Peter 1:23

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today.” From the master's words himself, we are brought to a profound understanding. Troubles are real and they will come, like the sunrise of each day. But those troubles should never cause us to worry about tomorrow. Each trouble is always met with the provision of God's bread. Bread that is sufficient enough to handle the trouble of that day. It’s a divine paradigm in which we are invited to participate in daily. God promises us that if we but trust in his daily provision, it is enough to handle the worst of troubles in a single day. What happens tomorrow will be answered at the right time.

Matthew 6:34

It is my daily duty to ask myself, “Does the money I make, and the company I have, serve or exploit my fellow men?” Often the greatest obstacle to the advancement of Christianity within the marketplace today is man's own selfishness toward the very ones Christ died for. Is Christ elevated or crucified again by my lack of posture as a marketplace missionary and thought leader? We have been called to do great exploits for God, not exploit man for our own gain. When we come to the end of ourselves, then and only then will Christ be able to move throughout our lives, bringing Glory to the Father, and making us true testimonies once again.

Philippians 2:3-4

The disciples were commissioned to not only go into the world but also to wait on the Spirit. The spirit was the comforter promised, as well as the courage and strength given if they only waited. We would gain more power and courage and peace if we learned to wait. In the business of life, we need to learn to be still. Isaiah declares by the spirit himself, “They who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.” Among the business of life and all we give to it daily, there must be a moment in time when we give time to receive what the Spirit is giving. A man who is unable to wait on God will find himself many times too busy and exhausted to enter into the new stages of life.

Acts 1: 1-5

We are faced daily with an internal decision. From every side, there seems to be a battle for the space of our hearts. I must realize today, that from the heart, everything else comes forth.

If my heart is full of self-worth or self-reliance I will find that God has no room, no reservation given, for full control. A heart that is not controlled by the Maker is given over to the destroyer of life itself. Every man has been given a warning, a sign that can either save a life or end it. I must choose today as a leader of my family and responsibilities to reserve all my heart for the one who formed it first. I must submit and release total control daily of that space if I ever desire to fully live as a slave to Christ.

1 John 5:21

Only within Jesus can a man resist the seductions of temptation and the weakness of being a coward in sin. Like a soldier who stands strong in battle. Facing the shocks of the fight, unmoving, unshakable. He only remains because of the orders first given to him. The key to victory is not only within the standing, it is also found in the courage to abide in Jesus’s word.

Like a soldier given orders, he never backs down from the fight. He stands because he was given the word, given the command.

Obedience and conviction in Jesus are what support a man in the middle of the fight.

It’s what grounds him like an anchor in the storm. Though the winds may blow and the storms may rage war, a man who is steadfast will come through every time.

True wisdom is pure. Pure enough that it can approach God with no fear of being found different. It is this confidence that brings one forward, into divine order. It is a moral standard in which a man's mind thinks only holy thoughts. True wisdom has been cleansed to the point where there are no other ulterior motives,

no self-preservation, no plan B. A type of wisdom that truly sees God. Where the world is found running from His sight, true wisdom runs straight towards, with open arms. Welcoming His radiant glory and life-altering provision, even in the fire.

How you walk in wisdom first starts with purifying the eye of your mind. From there you will truly see and be seen by the maker.

James 3:17-18

There must be a moral reform in an immoral system because you can’t give what you don’t live. We must come to the altar of grace and not leave until fully given over, fully changed from what we once were.

I must embrace the demand for outward and inward change in my conduct and character. Of the desires that pollute the heart and separate me from my maker. With clean hands and a pure heart, I am able to see God. There must be a cleansing of my lips, hands, heart, and mind. To be a true leader is to be purified in such a way that all may know Christ through my life on display or hidden in privacy. His grace is always present to help me achieve this necessity for heavenly order.

Matthew 5:8