WORD

Posted on March 31, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”   John 1:1-4

The world is hungry, almost desperate, for someone to tell them the Word, to show them Word by the integrity of their lives, so they can be assured that the Word told is indeed real. Many have become so wrapped up in themselves that Word is hard to see above the trappings of the wrappings!  Then someone comes along with words that seem doable, true and practical for their lives.  Ready to hear anything of value, the popular and very simple response, with an enlighten raise of the eyebrows and deep sigh, is with the colloquialism, “Whoa, Word!” 

But what Word are they believing?

Word is used in advertising to help us get the most out of life in the world of technology.  For example, for decades, Microsoft Word tells us their trusted Word app lets you create, edit, view, and share your files with others quickly and easily.  Okay, so we can easily and quickly spread the Word; but what Word are we telling and sharing, viewing and responding to as we read the Word?

Word is important.  It is not until we realize Word is the Person of Jesus Christ that we find THE WORD at last!  “In the beginning was The Word…”

Paul does not sugar coat preaching The Word—Jesus.  Rough times are ahead, relates Paul.  We recall that The Word tells His disciples this same truth, more than once. Preparing them for what the enemy was going to do to Him, before going to the cross, His final act of love, along with their response to the danger, The Word-Jesus tells them to believe and be assured in their belief.

“Do you now believe? Jesus replied. A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 17:31-33

Do we believe The Word—Jesus? 

Do we really believe what we say we believe about Jesus really real?

The answer to these simple, yet profound questions, asked from the depths of our souls, will directly relate to how we handle all that is difficult, trying and overwhelming on our journeys with The Word—Jesus, while walking in His ways on this earth.

What’s the Word in your life?  My life? 

Believing is the true measure of our response to difficulties.

“Don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed.”

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

2 Timothy 3, The Message

Difficult Times Ahead

1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

6-9 These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax.

Keep the Message Alive

10-13 You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

14-17 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

Lord,

I believe.  I believe you are The Word.  I believe you died for my sins and all sin.  I believe you are the Son of God.  I believe you rose again, defeating death forever.  I believe you are The Way, The Truth, and The Life for all who believe.  I believe that in good times and difficult times you are with me and will always be with me “until the end of the age.” 

I believe what Your Word says.  I believe in You the Author of The Word who inspired The Word upon which we read, learn and grow in our faith while led by Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you, Lord.  In this world we do have all kinds of troubles in all kinds of measures but the measure of faith comes by believing in you no matter what.  Yes, I believe.  And why not? You have given me all I need.

In Jesus Name, For Your glory, Amen

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SERVANT LEADERS WHO TRAIN SERVANT LEADERS—

Posted on March 30, 2022 by randscallawayffm

The way Jesus did…

There will never be a loss for leaders of integrity when leaders of integrity are mature and confident enough to pass on what God has given to them.  If leaders think they are the end all to all that God wants us to be and do, then we are not doing what Jesus did.  Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins.  While on earth, He spent three years, walking with men and supportive women who would carry on the work He began.  His final marching orders to them when he ascended back to God in heaven were; 

“…go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus also said to His disciples that some day THEY will do even more for God than HE did!  “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  John 14:12-14

God invites us to His work.  He doesn’t need us to do His work, but He invites us along and leads us to learn, grow, relate, love, train, mentor and lead others in His work as a gift of service to us that trains others who love God, believe in His Son and follow in His ways.  This is the definition of “reliable” in Paul’s letter to Timothy.  To lead is a gift from God that reliable leaders must pass on to others who are trusted by God to do His work, in Jesus Name, in His ways, for His glory!   The work didn’t stop with Jesus’ disciples.  God’s Kingdom work didn’t stop with Paul or Timothy.  

Friends, aren’t you glad reliable, godly men and women passed on God’s gift of training servant leaders like Jesus did?  We wouldn’t be reading this if they had not obeyed!!

One of my all-time favorite quotes from a current, reliable leader of Truth I admire is; 

“I have more joy in seeing others do what I do, better than the way I do it, than in doing it myself.”  –Andy Stanley

THIS is exactly what Paul is mentoring Timothy (and servant leaders today) to be and do—

“Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.”

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

2 Timothy 2, The Message

Doing Your Best for God

2 1-7 So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.

8-13 Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail! That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory.

This is a sure thing:

If we die with him, we’ll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
    for there’s no way he can be false to himself.

14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.

19 Meanwhile, God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones:

God knows who belongs to him.
steer clear of evil, all you who name God as God.

20-21 In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.

22-26 Run away from childish indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES  (Let’s learn from Paul, too!)

  • Firmly fixed and fully focused on Jesus, our ultimate example of Servant Leader
  • Throw themselves into what God has invited them to be and do
  • All is done in Jesus Name, for His glory
  • Consistently train other reliable men and women called of God
  • Pass on what they know, knowing that others will do the same
  • Concentrates on what God wants and diligently obeys Him, doing their best for Him
  • Live what they teach, practice what they preach 
  • They would not ask another to do what they have not already done
  • Know God and know that God knows them
  • Yielded to God, to be used by God as He sees fit
  • Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God
  • A gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool

Like Jesus did.

Lord,

You have given us work to do but first we must learn to be with you, hear from you, with your plan and process before doing anything of value and significance for you.  I am listening, ready to obey.  Show me your ways to pass on what you have given to me to help others grow continually in your ways, too.  Provide reliable mentors for me, too.  It’s a continual cycle of learning and growing, maturing and mentoring.  I love how you work in us!

In Jesus Name, for Your Glory, Amen

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REAL FAITH

Posted on March 29, 2022 by randscallawayffm

We have mindless faith and rely on many things and in most people day after day.  We get up, without thinking, and mindlessly flip the switch for the lights.  Still sleepy, we habitually turn the handle to get water to clean up, fully expecting it to flow from the source.  We trust that the toaster will make our slice of toast.  We fully depend on the coffee maker to produce our awakening brew. We get into the car, turn on the power, fully expecting the engine to drive us to work.  We travel with others on the roads and highways, trusting that they will stay in their lane so we can all get to where we want to be. Our minds wander, so much so, that we wonder how we even got to work!  We arrive at work and have faith that others will show up and do their job so the work is accomplished.   All of this is done because of faith we have in things and people around us.  This life of human faith works—until it doesn’t. 

If our only source of faith and trust in is things and people, we will soon be disappointed, disillusioned and eventually destroyed UNLESS we find rich faith in the One and Only who is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Profound, deep, growing, realistic, faith that endures through all the hard times as well as the good times is in Jesus Christ.  Paul teaches Timothy about this continually growing faith.  This passage is so encouraging, so powerful and so real.  Faith in Jesus, that becomes as habitual as daily tasks, is a rich faith that is to be guarded as a precious gift. 

Faith that endures and lasts forever is described by Paul as a life lived with NO regrets!   Bold faith lives to help others find and follow Jesus in faith, too.  Honest, sincere faith in Jesus is “loving and sensible”.  Faith is focus on Jesus, kept “ablaze” by our Master Jesus who keeps us growing and maturing in His ways.  Faith is assurance of where we are and where we are going, who we are and who we are becoming, all in Jesus Name, for Jesus, in Jesus for His glory and praise!

Paul says it best, from a heart bursting with the love of Jesus, “I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.

Friends, take Paul’s words to Timothy into our hearts, minds and souls as encouragement today;

“So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.

This precious thing is called faith in Jesus Christ, the One and Only who saved us.  Things and people will let you down.  But Jesus?  Never. 

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” –Jesus  (Matthew 28:20)

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

2 Timothy 1, The Message

1-2 I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!

To Be Bold with God’s Gifts

3-4 Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.

5-7 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.

8-10 So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.

11-12 This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.

13-14 So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.

15-18 I’m sure you know by now that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. But God bless Onesiphorus and his family! Many’s the time I’ve been refreshed in that house. And he wasn’t embarrassed a bit that I was in jail. The first thing he did when he got to Rome was look me up. May God on the Last Day treat him as well as he treated me. And then there was all the help he provided in Ephesus—but you know that better than I.

Lord,

Faith in you brings peace no matter what I am going through or what I am involved in at present.  Faith in you brings confidence I never had before knowing you.  Faith in you calms my ever-changing emotions and feelings.  Faith in you reminds me of your rescue.  Faith gives me boldness to tell others about you.  Faith gives me the ability to love others like you love me, not expecting anything in return, but just loving people unconditionally.  Faith in you makes each day lighter, easier to manage.  Faith in you is life to the full.  Faith in You goes deeper each day that I know you.  Faith is knowing you know me well.  Faith is assurance of love forever by Someone who will always be with me in all ways.  Thank you for growing my faith each day.  I’m listening—going deeper still in my faith in You!

In Jesus Name, Amen—No regrets!

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OVERWHELMING GRACE

Posted on March 28, 2022 by randscallawayffm

… I see the work of Your hands
Galaxies spin in a heavenly dance, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

… I hear the sound of Your voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise, oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

… I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… I know the power of Your cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God
All that You’ve done is so overwhelming

… I delight myself in You
In the glory of Your presence
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… You are beautiful
You are beautiful…

Overwhelmed  (by Michael Weaver / Phil Wickham)

THIS song is playing in the background of my mind as I read this passage from the beloved apostle Paul to his apprentice, Timothy.  This is not a leadership conference speech with glorious plans for self-improvement for better results based on the world’s way of assessing and evaluating progress, but rather a integrity lesson that involves how to be rich in all the ways that matter to God.

It begins and ends with elements of the overwhelming grace that God has poured out over all who believe in His Son, Jesus.  All of us become beloved brothers and sisters who truly believe what Jesus did to save us from our own sins.  It does not matter what position we hold in life or how much money we have in the bank, we are all equally saved, redeemed from sin, and given life forever!  Teaching anything else is unnecessary, a lot of hot air, relates Paul.

Because of Jesus, we grow rich in faith.  Because of Jesus we are free to give generously as God freely and so generously gave to us—The Way to Truth who gives Life!  We preach and teach Jesus, the One and Only, who died for us, went to hell and back again for us, defeating death and then rising from death in victory forever! 

Because of His amazing, overwhelming grace, Jesus stayed on earth long enough to prove His resurrection power to those who would carry on the profound, generous work of God for us.  Yes, after rising from the grave that could not hold Him, Jesus walked and talked with His believers.  He ate meals to show He was fully alive while showing the scars of His battle to save us to His friends.  Now, that’s rich! 

And that’s not all—Jesus is coming back!  Imagine with me, Paul dictating to the one who is writing this letter.  Paul writes with so much passion, we can almost see the writer with a quill, ink and parchment, scrambling to get all the words down as Paul loudly speaks excitedly with hands waving in the air—“Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.”

You can feel the love of God flowing through Paul as he gets personal with Timothy—

“And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Overwhelming grace keep you!”

… Oh God, there is no one more Beautiful
You are Beautiful
God, You are the most beautiful

… You are wonderful
You are wonderful
Oh God, there is no one more wonderful
You are wonderful
God, You are the most wonderful

… You are glorious
You are glorious
Oh God, there is no one more glorious
You are glorious
God, you are the most glorious

… I delight myself in You
In the glory of Your presence
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You
I’m overwhelmed…

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 6, The Message

1-2 Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don’t blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so—their masters are really their beloved brothers!

The Lust for Money

2-5 These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.

6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.

9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

Running Hard

11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Overwhelming grace keep you!

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul! Thank you for teaching me, growing my faith, turning my messes into messages of your love, mercy and overwhelming grace!  Keep transforming me because I’m not there yet…

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

… I delight myself in You
In the glory of Your presence
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

… God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed
I’m overwhelmed by You

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ALL IN THE FAMILY

Posted on March 27, 2022 by randscallawayffm

We who profess Jesus Christ as our Savior are free from the devil’s hold and grip to now worship Him daily and with other brothers and sisters who also profess their lives to Him.  We believe in Him as the One and Only who saved us from sin and destruction as we decide and declare to follow Him as Lord of our lives.  We are now presented to God, our Father, by Jesus Christ, our Advocate as whole and holy.  With this freedom comes grateful love and responsibility to God and to others.  “And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) 

Paul fleshes out what this responsibility to God as brothers and sisters in the family of God, working together in community, looks like in practical ways.  Paul wisdom comes from God.  Paul’s practical applications come from years of experience in dealing with difficult, immature people who need help.  Led by God’s Holy Spirit, Paul mentors Timothy in the leadership of the “family” called church.

Does the church need this advice with practical application today?  Yes!  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” in our transforming years of growing and maturing in His ways. None of us have “arrived” at perfection as brothers and sisters.  Because good and bad deeds by others might not show up for a while, we must keep a close watch on ourselves that we might not fall for fake, but lean wholly on Jesus and follow His Holy Spirit’s leading and discernment.  Ask God for wisdom.  Ask God for Truth.  And may His love in us be our foundation to lead and follow while doing life together in his family of believers.

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 5, The Message

The Family of Faith

1-2 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.

3-8 Take care of widows who are destitute. If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her. Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.

9-10 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church. They must be over sixty, married only once, and have a reputation for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled.

11-15 Don’t put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they’ll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. By breaking their word, they’re liable to go from bad to worse, frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. No, I’d rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. Some of them have already left and gone after Satan.

16 Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn’t be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help.

* * *

17-18 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox” and “A worker deserves his pay.”

19 Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.

20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can’t get by with it.

21-23 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.

24-25 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don’t show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.

Lord,

You knew we would need each other for encouragement and support so that we may live for you more consistently.  So, you formed the “church”.  We are merely groups of imperfect people, perfectly forgiven by you.  Lead us.  Guide our thoughts, words and actions.  May Your Love, that is unconditional and always wants the best for us, be in us as you call us to lead, teach and encourage others to follow you.  Help us to love like you love.  Bring unity in the Body and let it begin with me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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TEACH!

Posted on March 26, 2022 by randscallawayffm

As a teacher of first graders, I cannot count how many times the parents of these impressionable little ones said to me, “Oh, I could never be a teacher!”  “I don’t even want to be a teacher.”  When I share who I am and what I do in public groups of people, sometimes the same response is given—unless I’m talking to another teacher!  These declarations have always made me somewhat sad because people do not realize that ALL of us are teaching something to someone, good or bad, by how we live our lives.  Yep, I said that out loud.

Granted, some of us are called and given unique abilities by God to teach.  But before we are handed a classroom of students, we are required to work long hours reading, studying, and then practicing the art of teaching before earning the privilege to be a professional who is paid for teaching.  Timothy is being mentored by Paul in much the same ways.  He is to learn and keep learning as he teaches the Word correctly.  “You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching.”  Paul then builds on what Timothy learned as a child at his mother and grandmother’s knee and what every Jewish boy learns at the Synagogue.  Paul mentors Timothy about the importance of continuing education!  I love that! 

“Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart.

Why is Paul so definite and determined about a disciplined life with God? 

BecauseTimothy is being taught to teach people about the most important, loving, forever relationship they will have!  What Timothy is learning to preach/teach will literally save people forever, plucking people from death to life with Christ!  What Timothy will learn from Paul is reconciliation between God and mankind—by believing in Jesus who died for all sin.  Yes, it is important to prepare for this calling knowing God will fully equip Timothy for His Kingdom work of pointing people to Jesus as Savior and Lord!

Timothy will teach people how to follow Jesus as Lord of their lives.  But how?

Paul mentors his younger apprentice that his very life will teach what people will see and want to follow.  Now we come full circle to where I began with this thinking.  Our lives teach.  People of all ages watch us whether we know it or not.  We are always teaching something by the way we behave.  People watch how we as believers respond to disappointments, losses, accidents, failure, betrayals, and gossip.  People are watching to see if our belief matches our behavior and if our doctrine of love matches our demeanor.  People have razor sharp attention to see if what we say we really believe is practiced without a second thought.  This might be where the phrase, “Practice what you preach’ came into play!  I’ve also heard, “Preach Jesus—and sometimes use words!”  There is no doubt that our lives should proclaim the Gospel. But, we should also be able to articulate the Gospel to others.  Learn and teach.  Teach and learn.

So, in a sense, we are all teachers.  So, we ask ourselves:

What am I teaching?

Am I still teachable?  Do I think I have arrived?  (Even Paul didn’t think that of himself!)

Am I still learning from God, His Word, and from those who know God and are learners, too?

Am I aware of those who are watching me—in hopes to see Jesus in me?

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 4, The Message

Teach with Your Life

1-5 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They’ll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.

6-10 You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.

11-14 Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.

15-16 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.

Lord,

Thank you for plucking Paul from who and where he was to who he became in you.  Thank you for teaching him to pass on this teaching, YOUR teaching, to Timothy, Titus and others who passed it on to us!  We truly must “immerse” ourselves in Your Word and apply it so that our lives reflect You more and more.  Help us to “keep a firm grasp on our character and our teaching”, whether intentionally or unintentionally.  We know that people are watching.  May they see you in me.  I’m listening and ready for the next lesson.  I’m still want to learn from the Master Teacher—You!  I know you are not finished with me yet!  I also know that graduation takes place when I see you face to face!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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THE HARMONY OF SERVING

Posted on March 25, 2022 by randscallawayffm

It is a wonderful place to be, a great place to serve, a joyful place to lead when God’s people come together for a common goal, gladly laying their own interests aside.  God loves it when His kids behave in harmony!  David, one of God’s favored shepherds, called from the fields where he tended sheep to slay a giant bully as a boy, then later ordained as the Shepherd King of the God’s people, writes a song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem in tradition, sacrifice and worship.

“How wonderful, how beautiful,
    when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
    flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
    flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
    flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
    ordains eternal life.”

Harmony and unity are lost when people come to the Table of the Lord (commune with Him) with wrong motives.  Hurtful behaviors from pleasing self in serving affect everyone.  Chaos abounds in unwholesome environments.  I think of Judas who walked with Jesus every day, sat at the Table with Him on that last night together and even allowed Jesus, Son of God to wash his feet in humble service to Judas…then betrayed Jesus.  Jesus knows our hearts.  He knows our motives.  Judas served only for what he could get for himself.  Mm, that didn’t go well for him. 

Wait, do we serve to serve self?

We must ask ourselves daily, WHY am I doing what I do? Our motives for serving God by serving each other gathered in community called church must be pure, led by God, in ways that please God.  Wrong motivations are;

  • Nobody else will do it, so I will (self-martyr)
  • I need to feel good about myself (self-worth)
  • I want others to know how good I am (self-significance)
  • I need attention from others (self-seeking)

Serving and leading is not about us.  Self gets in the way of harmony when this is the “why”.

Paul teaches and mentors Timothy with God’s wisdom along with practical ways to bring together those who serve and lead with right motivations.  When all the parts come together, we are healthy as God’s people!  I’m reminded of what Paul said to the church in Ephesus;

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”  Ephesians 4:15-16, NLT

Jesus in us is key!  Jesus is our motivation for anything done for Him, in His Name, for HIS glory.  Jesus is the Truth we speak in love.  Jesus is the One and Only in  charge as the Head of the Body of believers.  Jesus makes the whole body fit together perfectly.  THIS is why we do what we do.  All for Jesus, led by Him.  When this happens, harmony happens.  And it is truly beautiful!

Here’s how it happens—

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 3, The Message

Leadership in the Church

1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

14-16 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I’m delayed, I’m writing this letter so you’ll know how things ought to go in God’s household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:

He appeared in a human body,
    was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
        was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
    believed in all over the world,
        taken up into heavenly glory.

Lord,

My first desire is to be in complete harmony with You, living to the beautiful rhythm of your grace.  Help us to keep our motives in check, hearing your voice above all other voices, with desires to please you in all we are!  May we be led by you.  May all that we do be done in your Name for your glory. Grow us to the level of having no thought of how serving will benefit us, we just serve as leaders and helpers in pure obedience to You.  Continue to transform me to be all you want me to be before doing anything for you.  It’s truly all about You. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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KEEP IT SIMPLE

Posted on March 24, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Men and women, all created by God, have a way of complicating life in various ways.  We overthink or shoot from the hip when cornered for a decision.  Then we second guess our decisions.  With this aspect of overthinking, bitterness creeps in to outline in our minds all that we should have done while life moves on, constantly changing our environment, situation or circumstance.  We live in a fear because we are overwhelmed by all these self-imposed complications.  We blame to world and world leaders.  We blame those near to us.

We make decisions based on lack of knowledge because we didn’t take the time to educate ourselves with truth. 

We also complicate our lives by assuming what other people are thinking without talking to each other.  We base our lives on what we think other people think!  Bitterness, resentment and other bad thinking is built solely on our assumptions.  We envy what each other have in wealth, knowledge, relationships and put down those who have put the work in to be where they are momentarily.  We are jealous of each other’s attention and accomplishments.  We complicate life all by ourselves because of needs of self-satisfaction wanting instant gratification. 

“ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” writes Paul to the Roman believers.  “Believe and you will be saved.”  Paul keeps it simple when it comes to being saved from self and all the ways we complicate our own lives.  Paul sits down and now writes of this simplicity of life with Jesus, as a mentor to a growing leader, Timothy.  (Romans 3:23 and Romans 10:10 as reference.)

Paul tells now tells Timothy in lesson one of leadership and living life for God how to keep it simple. Here’s what we can glean from the mentoring leader—

How do we get off the complicated train of thinking and behaving?

  • Know God:  Pray—Be in constant and consistent communication with One and Only God, in Jesus Name.  There is a reason this is number one!
  • Know the Message:  Don’t complicate the Word, like the Pharisees and other teachers did while totally missing the Savior!  Study to know the pure, holy, simple Truth of Jesus. 
  • GO!:  We are called of God to tell the Simple Truth of salvation, “getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
  • PRAY: Pray with raising holy hands to God asking for his wisdom in all of life.  Jesus kept life simple on earth and reminded us to do the same. We place “yokes” of a complicated life on ourselves, when time alone with Him simplifies life.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30) Perhaps, in other words, come to me and I will help you see the Simple Faith of Plain Truth in the simplicity in being with Me, while forgiving you for all the complications you have put upon yourselves.  Oh, friends, camp on this thought. I am.

TIMOTHY—MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 2, The Message

Simple Faith and Plain Truth

1-3 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

8-10 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.

11-15 I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first—our pioneer in sin!—with Adam right on her heels. On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.

SO, WHAT WE LEARN—

A simple life begins and ends with prayer.  Surprising?  Is it really surprising that the God of the all wants to listen to His beloved, who He sent His Son, Jesus to die for so we could live forever with Him?  Mm, could life be this simple with the added bonus of His peace? 

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”—Jesus (John 14:27)

Lord,

I repent of complicating our own lives by thinking we know best and think we should do more. I repent of assuming what others think and presuming how they will behave.  I repent of judging, comparing, envying and having jealous thoughts that complicate my thinking and living while robbing myself of your easier yoke of peace, rest, coming to you in an abiding relationship, in constant and consistent communication like this right now!  Thank you for your simple Truth of salvation.  You have humbled me because I believe what you say.   Teach me your ways and I will simply walk in them.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  Yes!

“…this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.”  Paul to Timothy—and to us!

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TIMOTHY, MY SON IN THE FAITH

Posted on March 23, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“Christians are quite serious in believing that when they gather together for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign.  God creates and guides, God saves and heals, God corrects and blesses, God calls and judges.  With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership?”

An introduction to Timothy and Titus…by Eugene Peterson—

“Quite obviously, it has to be second place.  It must not elbow its way to the front, it must not bossily take over.  Ego-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Master.  The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself, but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.”

“In his letters to two young associates—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete—we see Paul encouraging and guiding the development of just such leadership.  What he had learned so thoroughly himself, he was now passing on, and showing them, in turn, how to develop a similar leadership in local congregations.  This is essential reading because ill-directed and badly formed spiritual leadership causes much damage in souls.  Paul in both his life and in his letters shows us how to do it right.”

TIMOTHY—PASSING IT ON WITH MENTORSHIP

1 Timothy 1, The Message

1-2 I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior’s command, I’m writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!

Self-Appointed Experts on Life

3-4 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.

5-7 The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into dead ends of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.

8-11 It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are cynical toward this great Message I’ve been put in charge of by this great God.

* * *

12-14 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.

15-19 Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

Deep honor and bright glory
    to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
    ever and always. Oh, yes!

I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.

19-20 There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

God chose Timothy for Paul to mentor and pass on the work begun in Paul.  “Under God our Savior’s command . . .”

Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul teaches Timothy:

  • Keep Jesus at the center of all you think, say and do.
  • Let the Love of Jesus in you lead you.  “The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.”
  • “It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say.”  (That’s why God’s Love leads!)
  • God-led Leaders are grateful for what God has done in them.  They never forget what God did in them before using them to help others.  Their very lives show the mercy and grace of God!  “Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.”
  • God-led Leaders pray for those God wants them to mentor so the work continues.  Paul prayed for Timothy.  He prayed, “so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.”

Ah, what a powerful foundation upon which to build a mentorship of those people God sends to us, to pass on what God has taught us as leaders and followers of Christ!

Who is your mentor?  (We all need many advisors, as Proverbs wisdom tells us.)

Who are you mentoring?  In what ways?  For what reasons?  Why?

Some of us will say we are not teachers or leaders, but we are—all of us!  There is always someone seeking to better their walk and they do it by watching others who say they believe.  That is probably you! And me.

Lord,

First, all of Life is all about You.  You are God and we are not.  You are merciful in the ways you brought us from lostness to being found in you.  You saved us from ourselves and selfish living.  Lord, I know you want to take us to a place of helping others find and follow you, too.  I pray that all the learning, merciful acts of forgiveness, and love you have given to me is passed on to others with Your Spirit of Love, with your wisdom flowing through me, with your words of advice and counsel that are merciful kind and loving with your patience—just as you and others were to me.  Help us to pass it on and on and on…

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  Yes!

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THE PATH OF GRACE

Posted on March 22, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Following the “path of least resistance” by definition, is an option of avoiding difficulty or unpleasantness; the easiest course of action.  Most of us shyaway from confrontation and generally choose the path of least resistance.  But is that the best way?

When any given group of people form a team to accomplish a specific and significant task, not matter what it is, there will always be that “one” who doesn’t pull their weight.  This “one” doesn’t stop the work, because the others will take up the slack by doing the work of the lazy one because the ultimate goal is the completion of the project or task, right?

Paul says no.  We might say, “But Paul, it’s okay, we’ll do his work and ours to avoid conflict.”  “The goal is to finish the work God gave us to do.”  “So, we will not cause a scene, we will work harder so nothing is left undone.”  Paul still says no.  As a great leader, who is led by the Holy Spirit of God, Paul tells the church that laziness is not to be tolerated but we are not to get mad or even.  We are to “sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.” 

There are many reasons people do not serve or serve well.  We need to take the time to sit down with them and talk it over.  Ask questions, in a spirit of love, with care for the individual such as; “How can I help you serve?”  “What do you need to serve well?”  “Is there something you don’t know that you need to know?” “Is there something else you feel God is asking you to do?”  “How can I help connect you to what God is asking you to be?” “Who would you like to work with so you can learn from them?” There are many more helpful questions, but you get the picture. 

Sometimes the person is so overwhelmed by the task, that they give up readily. That is a warning sign to leaders who have not prepared them well for the task.  We have not trained them but have merely dumped them into a situation that is completely foreign to them, leaving them to fin for themselves.  Giving up looks a lot like laziness on the outside.

“Let’s pray together, asking God for his purpose and plan.” This a great beginning and ending to this type of conversation. As God lead us, and He will when we ask, Paul’s “sit and talk about it” plan is better for correcting the path of the person who is deemed lazy which will, in turn, further the health of the church!

I think of Paul’s advice to the Ephesian church, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”  (Ephesians 4, NLT) 

After reading this passage, I think of lazy people who required “extra grace” and a talk from a team leader.  I also saw joy abound in a changed life that was directed to a better way to live.  I also remember times when caring people took me aside to privately correct my own lazy attitude, putting me back on the “path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”   

Right now, again today, I now thank God for those people who gave me “the talk”! 

Friends, could that be the ultimate goal, that trumps even the completion of the task at hand?  When God invites us to join Him in HIS work; is this the real goal…to correct our walk with love and caring concern for each other? Mm, something to think about…Oh God, I see what you’re doing there…

THESSALONIANS—LIVING FORWARD!

2 Thessalonians 3, The Message

Those Who Are Lazy

1-3 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these troublemakers who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.

4-5 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!

17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.

18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!

Lord,

Your work is YOUR work in us.  Sometimes it appears easy then it is challenging, but whatever is asked, you provide a means to do it.  Thank you for the people you sent in my life to correct my path.  Help me to see people like you see them.  Help me to extend tremendous amounts of grace to them like you did for me.  Lead me, Lord.  Keep me on the Your path, always pointing people to You.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

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