EVERYONE HAS A STORY

Posted on May 15, 2022 by randscallawayffm

You have a story.  I have a story.  Everyone has a story!  Some are God-led stories.  Some stories result from being led by the fleeting, unstable whims of the world.  Most stories are earth shaking and life changing—good or bad.  All stories affect our lives.  When we hear Truth and understand the changes we need to make, our stories change.  We take up residence on higher ground, digging our feet into a solid foundation that doesn’t shift or move us—and we get better.  Our stories get better.  Our lives grow and blossom with beauty we never thought possible. 

So, what is your story?  I’m reflecting now on my story.

As we read “the big reveal” of Jesus coming back, we learn that churches (people collected in one group, striving to be like Jesus) have stories, too.  It is revealed to John that each church has kinks in their personalities, attitudes, and behaviors that could cause them to be less than worthy when Jesus comes back for his own. Each story is known by God.  It is God through Jesus Christ who can rectify and redeem their story—if the warnings are taken seriously.

What is the story of your church?  Our churches?

REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING!

Revelation 2, The Message

Part One

To Ephesus

2 Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel of the church. The One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding through the golden seven-lights’ circle, speaks:

2-3 “I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out.

4-5 “But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall!

“Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.

6 “You do have this to your credit: You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too.

7 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’m about to call each conqueror to dinner. I’m spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God’s orchard.”

To Smyrna

8 Write this to Smyrna, to the Angel of the church. The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come Alive, speaks:

9 “I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty—but I also see your wealth. And I hear the lie in the claims of those who pretend to be good Jews, who in fact belong to Satan’s crowd.

10 “Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever.

“Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you.

11 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. Christ-conquerors are safe from Devil-death.”

To Pergamum

12 Write this to Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth—out come the sword words:

13 “I see where you live, right under the shadow of Satan’s throne. But you continue boldly in my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst, when they martyred Antipas, my witness who stayed faithful to me on Satan’s turf.

14-15 “But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don’t you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel’s holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties? And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do the same thing?

16 “Enough! Don’t give in to them; I’ll be with you soon. I’m fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words.

17 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’ll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I’ll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name.”

To Thyatira

18 Write this to Thyatira, to the Angel of the church. God’s Son, eyes pouring fire-blaze, standing on feet of furnace-fired bronze, says this:

19 “I see everything you’re doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day.

20-23 “But why do you let that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet mislead my dear servants into Cross-denying, self-indulging religion? I gave her a chance to change her ways, but she has no intention of giving up a career in the god-business. I’m about to lay her low, along with her partners, as they play their sex-and-religion games. The bastard offspring of their idol-whoring I’ll kill. Then every church will know that appearances don’t impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what’s coming to you.

24-25 “The rest of you Thyatirans, who have nothing to do with this outrage, who scorn this playing around with the Devil that gets paraded as profundity, be assured I’ll not make life any harder for you than it already is. Hold on to the truth you have until I get there.

26-28 “Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You’ll rule the nations, your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you—and with it, the Morning Star!

29 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Ephesus:  They lost their first love while trying to do church.  Their motive to do things right became paramount over loving Jesus first and asking what He wanted.  Our Light begins to fade as our love for Jesus-first and only begins to fade in the background of why we do what we do.  Be then do.

Smyrna:  Rich or poor, never stop believing!  No matter what happens—never stop believing!  I be back soon, leave the Light on!

Pergamum:  You call on the Name of Jesus, but you’re looking for love in all the wrong places, partying close to the edge which can lead to death.  People led of evil are great influencers of those who follow Christ—if we let them.  Jesus will daily give us what we need to conquer the crowd of evil influencers. 

Thyatira: Impressive work without pure motives of heart, mind and soul is not what God is looking for as servant followers of God alone.  When the church becomes a business, the people suffer growth in Godly character (fruits of the Spirit).  When the church is confused by world thinking religions with an attempt to merge all religions with the Truth of Jesus Christ, the Body suffers.  God is not pleased.  Christ alone, nothing more, nothing less.  “Hold on to the truth you have until I get there.”  God rewards those who stick the His Truth alone.

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” 

What “wind” is blowing through our churches today?

Lord,

I pray for your church everywhere, around the world, to love you first, ask what you want, hear your voice above all other voices and obey you because we of our love for you.  “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.”

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

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THE BIG REVEAL!

Posted on May 14, 2022 by randscallawayffm

We were all hooked, (well, most of us), on Extreme Home Makeover, a television production that gifted a family going through hard times with a remodel of their home in such magnificent ways it was unbelievable until they actually SAW it revealed to them.  “MOVE THAT BUS!”  It took a lot of work with a lot of craftsmen to turn the old into new.  When it was complete, the designers tour bus blocked the view until the big reveal, timed perfectly, would happen—after a word from a ton of sponsors, of course! 

We all got to see it. Most of us shed tears, (okay, maybe just me), as we saw the heavenly ways in which the remodel was accomplished.  New windows, new paint, new everything replaced all that was old, worn out and unusable.  We who were watching were each family’s best cheerleaders!  “Oh, look how much better that will be for them!”  “Ooh, look how they met the needs of every family member and designed to their personality!”  We couldn’t wait to see what the designers would reveal each week!

John, the writer of the Revelation, gives us a glimpse, with imagery and truth, revealed by God through John to us.  Move that bus of doubt, wondering, faithless behaviors and worry!  Come, read, meditate, with eyes to see and ears to hear.  The Best is yet to come!  So, come with a heart, mind and soul ready to be filled with all God designed us to be!  Let’s read with joyous anticipation for the Biggest Reveal of all:  Jesus Christ, who was, is and is to come!  He’s coming back!  ALL will know it when He comes.  All truth will be revealed.  Who our first love, our first and final thought each day will be revealed in us! The good and the bad will be made known.  But those who believe will be saved—that’s the promise—and God always keeps His promises!

First, Who is the designer of our lives? 

Have we truly left the old for the new? 

Are we clinging to the worn out, unusable pieces of our lives that no longer fit in our new life? 

Are we moving toward Jesus as he moves toward us?

These are all questions of reflections as we read The Big Reveal over the next few days!

REVELATION—HE’S COMING BACK!

Revelation 1, The Message

1-2 A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. And John told everything he saw: God’s Word—the witness of Jesus Christ!

3 How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book!

Time is just about up.

His Eyes Pouring Fire-Blaze

4-7 I, John, am writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.

Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
    who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
    forever—and yes, he’s on his way!
Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye,
    those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
    will tear their clothes in lament.
        Oh, Yes.

8 The Master declares, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.”

9-17 I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s Word, the witness of Jesus. It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: “Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” I turned and saw the voice.

I saw a gold menorah
    with seven branches,
And in the center, the Son of Man,
    in a robe and gold breastplate,
    hair a blizzard of white,
Eyes pouring fire-blaze,
    both feet furnace-fired bronze,
His voice a roar,
    right hand holding the Seven Stars,
His mouth a sharp-biting sword,
    his face a blinding sun.

I saw this and fainted dead at his feet. His right hand pulled me upright, his voice reassured me:

17-20 “Don’t fear: I am First, I am Last, I’m Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death’s doors, they open and lock Hell’s gates. Now write down everything you see: things that are, things about to be. The Seven Stars you saw in my right hand and the seven-branched gold menorah—do you want to know what’s behind them? The Seven Stars are the Angels of the seven churches; the menorah’s seven branches are the seven churches.”

Lord,

Come, Lord Jesus, be Lord of my life today.  Forgive me of all that offends you.  Restore the joy of your salvation in me.  Renew Your Spirit that is right and good in me. Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HEY JUDE!

Posted on May 13, 2022 by randscallawayffm

And the one who comes in second the last book in the New Testament is…JUDE!  This letter of remembrance, of looking back over the history of God’s care for His people is also a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ with the final Day of Judgement!  Jude’s writing has been placed well, just before the Revelation.  His letter is a “call to arms”, a warning of keeping the faith in and through the last days.  He tenaciously sounds the alarm to believers and unbelievers. 

FUN FACT:  Following Jude is the book of Revelation written by the apostle John while exiled on a island.  While praying and in exile, John was given prophetic visions with great imagery of the last days in ways no one can duplicate, though movie producers have tried.  But back to Jude, who is he?

Since the author of this letter was the brother of James, this would make him the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Mark 6:3). Our Lord’s brothers in the flesh did not believe in Him while He was ministering (John 7:5). But after the resurrection, James was converted (see 1 Cor. 15:7), and we have every reason to believe that Jude was also saved at that time. Acts 1:14 informs us that “his brothers” were part of the praying group that was awaiting the Holy Spirit; 1 Corinthians 9:5 states that “the brothers of the Lord” were known in the early church.

Are you singing Hey Jude by the Beetles, yet?

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better…

Why did Jude write this letter? To warn his readers that the apostates (those against Jesus Christ and His resurrection) were already on the scene! Peter had prophesied that they would come (2 Peter 2:1–3; 3:3), and his prophecy had been fulfilled. Apparently, Jude wrote to the same believers who had received Peter’s letters, intending to stir them up and remind them to take Peter’s warnings to heart. You will discover a number of parallels between Jude and 2 Peter as you study this fascinating but somewhat neglected letter.

Jude, The Message

1-2 I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!

Fight with All You Have in You

3-4 Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. What has happened is that some people have infiltrated our ranks (our Scriptures warned us this would happen), who beneath their pious skin are shameless scoundrels. Their design is to replace the sheer grace of our God with sheer license—which means doing away with Jesus Christ, our one and only Master.

Lost Stars in Outer Space

5-7 I’m laying this out as clearly as I can, even though you once knew all this well enough and shouldn’t need reminding. Here it is in brief: The Master saved a people out of the land of Egypt. Later he destroyed those who defected. And you know the story of the angels who didn’t stick to their post, abandoning it for other, darker missions. But they are now chained and jailed in a black hole until the great Judgment Day. Sodom and Gomorrah, which went to sexual rack and ruin along with the surrounding cities that acted just like them, are another example. Burning and burning and never burning up, they serve still as a stock warning.

8 This is exactly the same program of these latest infiltrators: dirty sex, rule and rulers thrown out, glory dragged in the mud.

9-11 The Archangel Michael, who went to the mat with the Devil as they fought over the body of Moses, wouldn’t have dared level him with a blasphemous curse, but said simply, “No you don’t. God will take care of you!” But these people sneer at anything they can’t understand, and by doing whatever they feel like doing—living by animal instinct only—they participate in their own destruction. I’m fed up with them! They’ve gone down Cain’s road; they’ve been sucked into Balaam’s error by greed; they’re canceled out in Korah’s rebellion.

12-13 These people are eyesores at your love feasts as you worship and eat together. They’re giving you a black eye—carousing shamelessly, grabbing anything that isn’t nailed down. They’re—

Puffs of smoke pushed by gusts of wind;
    late autumn trees stripped clean of leaf and fruit,
Doubly dead, pulled up by the roots;
    wild ocean waves leaving nothing on the beach
    but the foam of their shame;
Lost stars in outer space
    on their way to the black hole.

14-16 Enoch, the seventh after Adam, prophesied of them: “Look! The Master comes with thousands of holy angels to bring judgment against them all, convicting each person of every defiling act of shameless sacrilege, of every dirty word they have spewed of their pious filth.” These are the complainers, the bellyachers, grabbing for the biggest piece of the pie, talking big, saying anything they think will get them ahead.

17-19 But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master, Jesus Christ, told us this would happen: “In the last days there will be people who don’t take these things seriously anymore. They’ll treat them like a joke, and make a religion of their own whims and lusts.” These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves. There’s nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit!

* * *

20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

24-25 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.

WHAT WE LEARN—

God is preserving the fallen angels and the apostates for judgment, but He is preserving His own children for glory. Meanwhile, He is able to preserve us in our daily walk and keep us from stumbling.  Lean into God’s help each day.

Because of Christ’s work on the cross, believers enjoy peace. The unsaved person is at war with God and cannot please Him (Rom. 8:7–8), but when he trusts the Savior, the war ends and he receives God’s peace (Rom. 5:1).

He also experiences God’s love (Rom. 5:5). The cross is God’s demonstration of love (Rom. 5:8), but His love is not experienced within until His Spirit comes into the believing heart. As the believer grows in his spiritual life, he enters into a deeper relationship of love (John 14:21–24).

Certainly. those who know Christ as their Savior enjoy a unique position. They are called by God to be set apart for God that they might enjoy love with God.

Because Jude would write a great deal in this letter about sin and judgment, he was careful at the very outset to define the special place that believers have in the heart and plan of God. The apostates would sin, fall, and suffer condemnation, but the true believers would be kept safe in Jesus Christ for all eternity.

Hey Jude!  You took a sad song and made it better!  It’s a sad song for unbelievers, but a glorious song for all who believe in Jesus Christ and are saved!

Lord of Life and Eternity,

Thank you for your plan to save us, grow us and love us in intimate relationship with you.  I am forever grateful for your love, mercy and grace.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AND THEY’LL KNOW…

Posted on May 12, 2022 by randscallawayffm

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love…

Songwriters: Peter Scholtes

I grew up going to church camp singing this song which brings back many memories of childhood thinking and wondering.  Yes, I was that child, the one who was quietly observing people while figuring out who was actually authentic, who was behaving like they said they believed.  I also wondered if the words of this song were all it took for people to know whose side we were on, who we worshiped as God alone, and what we stood for when hard-pressed in troubles.  Or is it who we think about most and enthusiastically talk about even more?

How will the world really know?

Years later, after many growing experiences with unbelievers and believers, I have learned that our first thought tells the state of our souls.  Is our first thought love, care, concern, assuming the best in others, cheerleading the troubled and applauding those who are achieving?  All these attitudes come from the work Jesus modeled for us when He walked the earth.  John has picked up the habits of Jesus and His love expressed and has become the pastor of other pastors in his writings inspired by God.  We love John.  We love what he has to say.  We love God because of all that John says about the love of God for us.  Extreme Love.  Relentless and unlimited love. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  1 John 4:7-8

As we wrap up our time with John, let’s reflect on what we have learned…

God’s love is unconditional.  Are we unconditional with our love?

God’s love comforts and cares for all people.  Is our love expressed like Jesus modeled for us?

God’s love encourages, is not haughty or proud, and is full of joy when his children grow in His love for others.  Do we love it when others blossom in God’s love and in doing well?

To know real love is to know God.  If we don’t know Love, we don’t know God.  How deep is my love for God?  Am I growing?  

Our behaviors will always reflect to the world to whom we belong.

And they’ll know…

JOHN—GOD AND LOVE

3 John 1, The Message

1-4 The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

Model the Good

5-8 Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

9-10 Earlier I wrote something along this line to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge, denigrates my counsel. If I come, you can be sure I’ll hold him to account for spreading vicious rumors about us.

As if that weren’t bad enough, he not only refuses hospitality to traveling Christians but tries to stop others from welcoming them. Worse yet, instead of inviting them in he throws them out.

11 Friend, don’t go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God’s work. The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn’t know the first thing about God.

12 Everyone has a good word for Demetrius—the Truth itself stands up for Demetrius! We concur, and you know we don’t hand out endorsements lightly.

13-14 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use pen and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk.

Peace to you. The friends here say hello. Greet our friends there by name.

Lord,

I love you with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul.  To you be the glory for all the good that you have produced in me.  I cannot do life without you. You are love.  I love because your love is in me.  Help me to love like you love.  Help me model the Good.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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A PASTOR’S LOVE FOR TRUTH

Posted on May 11, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Growing up “Christian” as a believer in a believing family of believers, I have known many pastors that have come and gone in my life.  Most were great influencers of my growth in Jesus’ love and in serving like He served.  Those that influenced me the most were those who took great joy in seeing me grow more than taking pride in their work in me because they knew it was fully God doing all the heavy lifting in my growth.  I have learned that the humble, most loving pastor influencers in my life had no arrogance, had great experience in failing as well as achieving, and learned from their own experiences.  Those who knew pain and hurt from others were the best to “coach” me through my own experiences so I could grow and not fall back in ways that would not be good for me or the people I served alongside. 

When God called Randy and I to leadership in His church, we leaned heavily on those who had gone before us, who loved well, who were wise in dealing with “extra grace required” people who would try to trip us up in leading.  One particular instance that made me stop and think, (and there were many times like these), was by one mature pastor friend and mentor.  He listened to my rants about the meanness of congregational members to us and to each other.  I was disappointed and hurt because “these people” were stopping the progress of what we needed to achieve—at least in my small thinking.  After patiently listening, he asked, “Do you love the people God has placed in your care?” 

After stammering a bit, I stopped to think about that question and take it to heart.  I pretty sure he knew I would.  After a pause, I said, “Yes, with the love of Jesus in me, yes.”  But I was not as enthusiastic as I felt I should have been.  That’s when the love of God took over in pastoring.  I began to love “them” more than being upset by the meanness, repaying evil with love and service until I could, without hesitation, answer the question, “do you love them?” with a truthful, resounding, “YES!” 

We must lead as Jesus led.  He taught us to love each other by serving each other—even washing feet before laying down his life for ours.  This is love—putting aside our hurt, disappointments and wonderings about the behavior of those who are growing as we are growing and just Love—in Spirit and in Truth. 

John is the kind of pastor who mentors well.  He is one who teaches us to grow in the perfect love of God.  We are not perfect people, none of us are “good” but we are perfectly forgiven by the One and Only who loved us first.  We must love like God loves, no matter what, as if our very lives depended on it—because it does!  Thank you, John for teaching us real Love in authentic relationships.

JOHN—GOD AND LOVE

2 John 1, The Message

1-2 My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I’m not alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us loves you.

3 Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!

4-6 I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

Don’t Walk Out on God

7 There are a lot of smooth-talking con artists loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!

8-9 And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

10-11 If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.

12-13 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.

Lord,

There are so many lessons yet to learn about your perfect Love in us that should be guiding all we think, say and do.  Help us, Lord, to love with your great Love in us.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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TRUE GOD—REAL LIFE!

Posted on May 10, 2022 by randscallawayffm

John loves to talk about Love, not the love the world throws around as a way to manipulate others to get ahead in their world of compromise and lies, but a love beyond our wildest dreams!  This Love begins by knowing God.  God is Love.  Jesus is the Action of that Love.

John wrote the gospel account about Jesus, our source of God’s Love, and explains God’s Perfect Love:

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”  John 3:16-18, The Message

John is inspired to write for one reason—so all will know and believe in Jesus, Son of God, who opens the door to God’s Love perfected in us and gives us life for eternity.  Yes, that means forever!

John writes his subsequent letters to the church of believers to help us realize that this knowing and believing unleashes God’s power in all who believe!  This power, brought on by believing and grows greater by our faithfulness to God has the ability to bring the world to its knees!  Wait, what?!  Read that again!  How great is our God!  How deep is our faith?  Meditate on the power that lies within us that can urge others to know and believe!  It’s a matter of life or death! 

True God—Real Life!  Now and Forever.

JOHN—GOD AND LOVE

1 John 5, The Message

1-3 Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-born. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees

4-5 Every God-born person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

6-8 Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement.

9-10 If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God’s testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God’s own testimony regarding his Son.

11-12 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

The Reality, Not the Illusion

13-15 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.

16-17 For instance, if we see a Christian believer sinning (clearly I’m not talking about those who make a practice of sin in a way that is “fatal,” leading to eternal death), we ask for God’s help and he gladly gives it, gives life to the sinner whose sin is not fatal. There is such a thing as a fatal sin, and I’m not urging you to pray about that. Everything we do wrong is sin, but not all sin is fatal.

18-21 We know that none of the God-born makes a practice of sin—fatal sin. The God-born are also the God-protected. The Evil One can’t lay a hand on them. We know that we are held firm by God; it’s only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One. And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles.

Lord,

I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  I loved you as a child sitting in a room of believers growing up.  I love you still, love you greater still.  I may have troubles at times, but my love for you cannot be taken away, nor does it fade.  I cannot not love you!  Now I rediscover the power of your love in us today.  I am grateful all the more for what you are doing in and through us—all because of your love for us.  Wow!In Jesus Name, Amen  I believ

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HOW DEEP?

Posted on May 8, 2022 by randscallawayffm

How far do we have to go in helping each other? 

How deep is our love for each other?  Is love a noun or a verb?

How is God’s Love in us expressed through us? 

Who is the model, the perfect example, to follow so we get this right?

John answers all these questions and more as the beloved disciple of Jesus Christ.  With his friends, John sat at the table of the last Passover Supper, led and served by Jesus who would soon be Savior to all.  John was one of the ones whose dirty, dusty feet were washed by “the one who knew no sin”.  Jesus, soon to be King of kings and Lord of lords, bent down, humbled himself as a servant would and washed his disciples feet—ALL of them.  How deep is the Father’s love for us?  Look to Jesus and his actions who “showed the full extent of His love”.  (See John 13)

John, the gospel writer, now sends letters of reminders of the marvelous, relentless, unconditional love of God through His Son.  He wants us to know without doubt or worry that we, too, are deeply loved.  He shows the way to love along with the benefits of loving like Jesus.  We have less to criticize or beat ourselves up about when we are busy loving and serving like our Master perfectly exemplified.

JOHN—GOD AND LOVE

1 John 3, The Message

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

2-3 But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

4-6 All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.

7-8 So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.

9-10 People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-born to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.

* * *

11 For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.

12-13 We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don’t be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.

14-15 The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together.

16-17 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

When We Practice Real Love

18-20 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

21-24 And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

Playing the background of my mind, as worship to our Father and His Son, Jesus, Savior and Lord is “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”  Let us worship him together this morning…

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Songwriter: Stuart Townend

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole to love and to serve like you taught us.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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DEEP LOVE—REAL RELATIONSHIP

Posted on May 7, 2022 by randscallawayffm

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me 

This song by Foreigner is playing in the background of my mind that explains the hunger of the seeking world without the Love of God.

You know “those” friends who love well!  I’m thinking of “those” friends in my life as I write this.  I’m smiling as I remember them and thank God for them! We all have “those” friends with whom we have shared great times of laughter and suffered together through life’s trials.  We have invested time in each other in these relationships with deep love and caring affection because they love—without conditions—in the same ways we love them.  We may move away from each other because of jobs or family, but when we meet again; we easily pick up the conversation where we left it as if they lived next door. 

It is “those” friends who are precious to us.  We thank God for these friends daily.  It is those friends that we trust with our hearts.  It is those friends who we rely on to always have our backs, stand with us in the faith, and comfort us when we are going through hard times.  Deep investment of ourselves to them grows our unconditional love for them in authentic, pure relationship. These earthly relationships are precious, right?

Who created this method of bonding, investing, trusting, relating and loving?  Where did these deep, intimate, loving relationships begin? John, the beloved disciple of Jesus Christ, eye-witness to Perfect Love expressed and taught, articulates what Love means for us.  John reminds us how, not only believing, but going deep in God’s Love saves our souls for eternity and deepens our love for each other.  This Love drives out fear and hate.  This Love is pure.  This Love doesn’t ask more questions to verify or is judgmental, He just pours on more Love.  “Love covers a multitude of sins.”  (Peter)

We discover our relationships with each other go deeper still when sin is taken out of the equation by Jesus Christ; Savior, Lord and Friend forever who invites us to be Friends with God!  It is upon this foundation of Love that our love grows for God and for each other.

JOHN—LOVE AND GOD

1 John 2, The Message

1-2 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s.

The Only Way to Know We’re in Him

2-3 Here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.

4-6 If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

7-8 My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you’ve known it from day one. It’s always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness fading away and the True Light already blazing!

9-11 Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

Loving the World

12-13 I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.

13-14 And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.

15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Antichrists Everywhere You Look

18 Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they’re all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That’s how we know that we’re close to the end.

19 They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.

20-21 But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven’t been writing this to tell you something you don’t know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn’t breed lies.

22-23 So who is lying here? It’s the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that’s who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well.

24-25 Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life!

26-27 I’ve written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they’re no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ’s anointing, no less! You don’t need any of their so-called teaching. Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.

Live Deeply in Christ

28 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives.

29 Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children.

Lord,

Your message is clear and understandable.  Our belief in you must match the actions of our Love we say we have for You and each other!  I will continue to learn how You, dear Jesus, taught us to live and follow in your ways.  I will stay with You, live deeply in you, having no excuses to explain why I didn’t love, when you return.  You are God.  I am not.  Because your Love is perfect, pure and holy, I will seek what you want.  Because you first love me, I will love you back.  Help me to go deeper still in your Love.  Your love is powerful!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LOVE AND GOD

Posted on May 6, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“The two most difficult things to get straight in life are love and God.  More often than not, the mess people make of their lives can be traced to failure or stupidity or meanness in one or both of these areas. 

The basic and biblical, believers in Jesus, conviction is that the two subjects are intricately related.  If we want to deal, (relate), with God the right way, we have to learn to love the right way.  If we want to love the right way, we have to deal with God the right ways.  God and love can’t be separated.  (Read that again.)

John’s three letters provide wonderfully explicit direction in how this works.  Jesus, the Messiah, is the focus:  Jesus provides the full and true understanding of God; Jesus shows us the mature working-out of love.  In Jesus, God and love are linked accurately, intricately and indissolubly.

But there are always people around who don’t want to be pinned down to the God Jesus reveals, to the love Jesus reveals.  They want to make up their own idea of God, make up their own style of love.  John was a pastor to a church (or churches) disrupted by some of these people.  In his letters we see him reestablishing the original and organic unity of God and love that comes to focus and becomes available to us in Jesus Christ.”  (Introduction by Eugene Peterson, The Message)

God IS Love.  Know God, talk and commune with Him, to begin to know and grow Love.  As we read, keep Jesus in focus as we look and recall all the actions of Jesus’ love as shown to people then and to us now.  I pray we grasp the pure love of God and hold on tight.  And let it begin today…

JOHN—LOVE AND GOD

1 John 1, The Message

1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.

3-4 We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

Walk in the Light

5 This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him.

6-7 If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.

8-10 If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.

STEPS TO TAKE WITH WHAT WE KNOW—

  • First, admit and confess our sins.
  • God loves us and forgives our sins because of Jesus who paid our debt of sin.  So, we love and forgive others who sin against us.
  • To know God is to know Love.  We love because He first loved us. 
  • God and Love cannot be separated.  To love like God, we cannot separate our lives in pieces by loving some and rejecting others with the love of God in us.  That is not His way to love.  That is human nature love which is fickle and unreliable.
  • To be in an intimate relationship with God, to be in communion with Him and His Son, we must love like He loves us—purely, holy, without conditions.
  • To walk with God is Love.  Love is the Light that guides us through the darkness of our world.  “…if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin”. 

Lord,

You are indeed real, authentic Love.  You are the Love the world keeps searching for in all the wrong places.  But I found you.  You are my all in all.  My sins confessed gives new life just knowing your love for me.  Your Light and Love, Forgiveness and Grace, builds upon my belief and acceptance of what you did for me, dear Jesus.  You are my Hope.  You are Life.  You are Light in the dark and Love that is never ending.  Yes, help me to Love like you Love me.  A shared Love with You and others who believe in You is priceless.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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AND WE’RE WALKING…

Posted on May 5, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Tour guides crack me up!  As a former public school teacher who has experienced many field trips with students, the rehearsed prepared material given to tour guides, complete with lame jokes, that is embedded into their being is most times intriguing and educational.  But sometimes, if the person hasn’t really studied the script and goes off the script, the presentation is less than stellar.  I have experienced both.

I still enjoy a good tour with someone “in the know”.  I love the real stories of history—the struggles along with the achievements.  I love to walk where others walked and hear how they learned to live their lives as great contributors to our world’s needs. I also enjoy the tour guide who keeps us moving along so we don’t linger too long in one spot when there is so much to see and learn!  “And we’re walking…”

Peter is our tour guide of “The Last Days”.  I hear him moving us along in our faith and hope of Jesus’ return.  “And we’re walking…” in the knowledge of what we know now with spiritual hunger and thirst, deep in our souls, to know more.  Peter guides us through what he knows, from his point of reference…”as one who has been with Jesus”.  (See also Acts 4)

“When you least expect it, expect it” is what we tell others when playing a game of comeback.  But Peter is telling us no one will know, only God knows when Jesus will come back to claim His own.  But we do know this:  Jesus IS coming back.  Our tour guide of the last days is confident of this truth as told to him by Jesus, Himself.  Jesus is our hope of eternal life. Our Hope is coming when God says it is time. 

Why the wait?  Our tour guide has the answer: “He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 

And we’re walking…with God, in relationship with Him because of Jesus Christ, who brought us together, saving us from all sin. 

And we’re walking daily, “holding our minds in a state of undistracted attention” to Jesus.

And we’re walking, while “God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics”.

And we’re walking until the unannounced announcement of Jesus’ return is announced!  We keep moving along in obedience to our Master Tour Guide.  Our tour on earth is brief and temporary.  This world is not our final destination.  Our walk with Jesus is forever.  And we’re walking…in the Light of His glory and grace!

“So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. “

And we’re walking, growing in grace, watching for Jesus return!  Yes, and Amen!

PETER—THE ROCK

2 Peter 3, The Message

In the Last Days

3 1-2 My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.

3-4 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their petty feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”

5-7 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.

The Day the Sky Will Collapse

8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a raging inferno, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

* * *

14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

Thank you, Peter!  You are greatest tour guide of all! 

Lord,

Thank you for reminding us to keep walking, moving along, growing in our faith as we wait for you to come.  It is in the waiting that we are growing and learning.  It is in the waiting that we must be tour guides for others walking in wrong direction, away from the knowledge of You, the Truth.  Help us to point people to you! Keep me alert.  Help me to be on guard, recognizing and measuring your truth against all that is not.  Continue to teach and transform me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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