STAND FIRM—GENTLY—LED BY GOD’S SPIRIT

Posted on February 5, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Life lessons are hard.  Being a called of God leader in His church is harder still.  Paul is discovering what this means and is learning how to respond by God’s Spirit.  It was James who wrote, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”  Not only are we under the scrutiny of God, our authority who demands His Truth alone be said, but by those who want to destroy the Truth with their own opinions.  As leaders, we humans are compared to, in competition with, every word graded, along with actions evaluated with every breath we take.  We must stand firm on God’s Word, be gentle in our persuasion of telling the Truth and be led by God’s Holy Spirit.  We must pause, pray  and think before answering criticisms. 

That being said, you can do everything according to God’s plan and still be attacked by the very people in which you are leading to God.  Paul, the great apostle, who took physical beatings for telling the Good News to whom God sent him, now is taking on the complaints of the church, made up of imperfect people who want to add “God-stuff” to their lives without turning from worldview thinking and philosophies.  Paul, be led by the Spirit, responds with how to live sold out to God, in Jesus Name, for the glory of God.   Paul is criticized.  Yes, church, it happened then, it still happens now.  Paul teaches leaders how to respond.

The Spirit led Paul to use a wise approach as he wrote to the Corinthians. He was writing to a divided church (1 Cor. 1:11), a church that was resisting his authority, and a church that was being seduced by false teachers. So, first he explained his ministry so that they would no longer doubt his sincerity. He then encouraged them to share in the offering, for he knew that this challenge would help them grow in their spiritual lives. Grace giving and grace living go together.

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 10, The Message

Tearing Down Barriers

1-2 And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ. I hear that I’m being painted as cringing and wishy-washy when I’m with you, but harsh and demanding when at a safe distance writing letters. Please don’t force me to take a hard line when I’m present with you. Don’t think that I’ll hesitate a single minute to stand up to those who say I’m an unprincipled opportunist. Then they’ll have to eat their words.

3-6 The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

7-8 You stare and stare at the obvious, but you can’t see the forest for the trees. If you’re looking for a clear example of someone on Christ’s side, why do you so quickly cut me out? Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ. You may think I overstate the authority he gave me, but I’m not backing off. Every bit of my commitment is for the purpose of building you up, after all, not tearing you down.

9-11 And what’s this talk about me bullying you with my letters? “His letters are brawny and potent, but in person he’s a weakling and mumbles when he talks.” Such talk won’t survive scrutiny. What we write when away, we do when present. We’re the exact same people, absent or present, in letter or in person.

12 We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

13-14 We aren’t making outrageous claims here. We’re sticking to the limits of what God has set for us. But there can be no question that those limits reach to and include you. We’re not moving into someone else’s “territory.” We were already there with you, weren’t we? We were the first ones to get there with the Message of Christ, right? So how can there be any question of overstepping our bounds by writing or visiting you?

15-18 We’re not barging in on the rightful work of others, interfering with their ministries, demanding a place in the sun with them. What we’re hoping for is that as your lives grow in faith, you’ll play a part within our expanding work. And we’ll all still be within the limits God sets as we proclaim the Message in countries beyond Corinth. But we have no intention of moving in on what others have done and taking credit for it. “If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work. It’s what God says about you that makes the difference.

WHAT WE LEARN—

Whenever I receive a critical email or text message, I have learned to set it aside in a special file until I feel I am really ready to answer it. On a few occasions, I have replied to letters too quickly, and I have regretted it. By waiting, I give myself time to think and pray, to read between the lines, and to prepare a reply that would do the most good and the least damage. 

Before responding, think of how God responds to us.  “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” to us.  (Psalm 86:15).

“I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ.”  Pause, pray, listen, respond via the Spirit.

Strap on powerful tools given to us by God for building, not tearing down—”building lives of obedience into maturity.”

Don’t miss the point of ministry!  Stop comparing, competing and grading each other.  Do what God wants and leave the growth and evaluation to Him. 

Be committed and motivated by God for His work.  “What we’re hoping for is that as your lives grow in faith, you’ll play a part within our expanding work.”

To God be the glory.  Always.  And forevermore! 

It’s what God says about you that makes the difference.  

The most freeing realization came to me one day when I read, “God doesn’t need you to do His work.” God invites us to his work. Jesus, Son of God, invited ordinary people to join Him in the work God sent Him to do as the example of how we should think about God’s work. 

Example:  Jesus could have waved his hand over the 5000 plus hungry men and women gathered on a hillside and pronounced them no longer hungry with mere words.  But He didn’t.  He involved his disciples.  He asked them, “what do you have?”, which made them pause and think. He directed them at each step after He blessed what they presented to Him.  Then it was a process of pass the fish and bread, eat your fill, collect the leftovers in 12 baskets, one for each of the Twelve disciples, (no coincidence here!), so they could feel the weight of the abundant leftovers!  Jesus did not need them to do God’s work of filling and feeding, but invited the disciples to join Him so they could realize who gets all the credit, glory, honor and praise for the work. 

Stop to remember—Jesus had to reprimand his disciples for comparison and competitions about who is the greatest frequently.  Paul had to stand firm and remind the church as well.  Ah, now we get. Right?

Lord,

We are all in this together, led by Your Holy Spirit living in us.  We make mistakes, we have setbacks, and we are critical of each other.  But then we remember what you say as you correct our course once more.  It’s Your Work.  You are the One and Only God who is for us not against us.  You sent your Son to save us from all our sins, once and for all.  We are not perfect, no one is, but through admittance and repentance, we are perfectly forgiven by you.  Oh Lord, what a wonderful Savior you are indeed!  When criticized in the work, may we be motivated by your Truth and persuaded by your love in response.  Help us to stand firm on the foundation of you, dear Jesus, who is the only Way, the Truth which leads to Life eternal.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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GOD GAVE—WE GIVE!

Posted on February 4, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Let’s get right to it! GOD LOVES AN ENTHUSIASTIC GIVER OF WHAT HE HAS GIVEN TO US!  This is Paul’s message that comes from God as he teaches God’s people how to give with reasons to give.  Giving is actually for us!  Giving is in direct response to all God has provided and given to us.  God gives us a mind to give that decides how much to give with a heart that prompts us to give.  God gives us His Holy Spirit to give us wisdom with a plan to give.  Joy is in the giving.  We become like Him in our giving.  We become closer to God as we give.

Giving from what God has so generously given to us becomes pure joy when we realize His deep love for us as He teaches us to give.  Here are a few points to ponder, listed by Paul as he shares these giving truths about God with the church:

  1. All we have comes from our generous, extravagant God who owns all.
  2. Giving is one of our spiritual acts of worship to our God who gives to us.
  3. Because God loves to give to us, He loves a cheerful giver who also loves to give.
  4. God loves the enthusiasm that builds when His people come to together with a plan to give.  Last minute, emotional giving is less than what God desires.
  5. Giving reveals the conditions of our hearts to God who sees our hearts completely.
  6. Having a heart to heart with God about what to give is pleasing to God.
  7. God delights in a cheerful, thoughtful giver.
  8. God gives so we can give.  Astonishing blessings are ready to be poured out to those who give with the heart and plan of God. He will give us more to give!
  9. The heart of God is explained: “His right-living, right-giving ways, never run out, never wear out.  We cannot “outgive” God!
  10. To God be all the glory in giving.  God provides so we can provide.  “He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”
  11. Giving begins and ends with God who gave.  To God be the glory!
  12. Giving is far more than giving.  Giving “produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. Giving is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ”.

“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

God is at the center of all giving.

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 9, The Message

1-2 If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I’d be repeating myself. I know you’re on board and ready to go. I’ve been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, “Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year.” Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.

3-5 Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.

6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

Lord,

Thank you, indeed, for this gift of giving.  We cannot praise you enough for all you have given to us.  You gave us Jesus.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for saving our souls, making things right with God, the Giver of Life itself.  Thank you for all you have provided.  Thank you for your faithfulness.  Thank you for your love that caused you to give.  May we love and give like you do for us.  To YOU be all the glory, honor and praise!  We can give only because you gave to us.  You are God.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for the gift of giving.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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OFFERING

Posted on February 3, 2022 by randscallawayffm

For thirteen years of my life, part of the work God called me to do involved taking college-age students to various mission fields to learn and grow in their own faith while coming alongside missionaries and national leaders in their work.  This quickly became the heart of my ministry as a denominational leader.  To watch “kids” grow before my very eyes by taking them out of what was comfortable to what challenged their belief and behavior systems was great joy for me.  Our love for all the people on the field we met grew deep as we worked hard alongside each other.  We shared with each other, learning from each other equally.  We prayed with each other passionately.  We saw the richness of their faith which deepened our own faith.

But then, one day, God spoke to my heart through a letter sent by one of those pastors from Haiti with whom we ministered alongside.  I will never forget this beautiful letter that appeared on my desk, a few months upon returning from that country of desolation and poverty.  He not only sent a letter of thanks for joining him in God’s work there, he sent an offering to further God’s work!  Though desperately poor, he was incredibly happy to give!

Tears flowed.  My heart was greatly moved by this sacrificially offering from this man who loved God back in this way but was barely making it in a country of poverty.  How rich he is, indeed, was my first thought.  I had been to his home, fellowshipped with his family and worshipped with him in his church.  He helped us in so many ways understand the Haitian way of thinking so we could tell the gospel in the best ways.  I had grown to love and admire Pastor with great love for his family.  Now my respect, love and admiration grew deeper still.  He gave from a cheerful heart as God desires, wanting to give what he could. 

Paul, I get it!  I understand and feel your joy as people are so touched by what God has done for them, they give whatever they can because they realize all belongs to God.  I also understand the test of our faith is what we give back from a heart that belongs unreservedly to God.

How “rich” in faith are we? 

That is a personal question that deserves prayerful thought.  (Take all the time you need.  I am.)

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 8, The Message

The Offering

1-4 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

5-7 This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.

8-9 I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

10-20 So here’s what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart’s been in the right place all along. You’ve got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can’t. The heart regulates the hands. This isn’t so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you’re shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,

Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have. He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea. We’re sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message. But there’s far more to him than popularity. He’s rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God’s gifts to honor God as well as we can, taking every precaution against scandal.

20-22 We don’t want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves. We’re being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God. That’s why we’re sending another trusted friend along. He’s proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He’s heard much about you, and liked what he’s heard—so much so that he can’t wait to get there.

23-24 I don’t need to say anything further about Titus. We’ve been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ. Show them what you’re made of, the love I’ve been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!

TEARS OF JOY EXPRESSED—

  • I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches
  • The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor.
  • They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
  • What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.
  • In the end you come out even. As it is written,

Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

  • You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

Lord,

YOU provide all we have and all we are.  YOU became poor and by your sacrifice we became rich.  YOU created all, you are in all, so you own all.  Everything we have comes from You.  It is not how much we have but how much we are willing to give that makes us “rich”.  You have assigned each of us as managers.  Lord, help us to own and appreciate that privilege while growing spiritually responsible for all you have given us to manage in Your Name, For Your Glory, Amen. 

You have proven yourself faithful to me over and over again.  Thank you, Lord.

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CARE ENOUGH…

Posted on February 2, 2022 by randscallawayffm

I have lived a long grateful life for all the ways God has taught me.  He has had a LOT of work to do in me and He is not finished yet!  Here’s what I have learned so far.  As a leader in the church, I cannot recall anyone saying, “I love to confront people.”  We who have grown up with the teachings of Jesus, knowing we are not perfect, are cautious.  Jesus said, “Do not judge”, so we are careful (or should be) with what we say in our words and body language to others.  For me, I would rather lift people up with encouraging words than to tell them of behaviors that are not good for their growth.  But sometimes, because we have gone through the same learning experiences, God calls us to confront.  If this is hard, it should be. 

There is a difference between criticizing and confronting.  We are not called to be critical of each other, nitpicking each other’s faults.  Paul speaks of the harm of critical behaviors in his teachings to the church.  (See Colossians 3).  Yes, criticizing is easy and must be avoided at all costs, but the ministry of confrontation is hard and necessary.  To confront is agonizing to the caring heart; but as a leader, when God’s Spirit leads you to tell another of behaviors that detract from their spiritual growth and lead them to hurting others in the Body, you must.  I’ve discovered that God has a way of calling us to confront a person who has the same issue we have had to overcome in our own lives, so the lesson is more valid.  Mm.  Let’s pause and think about that for a moment. 

Paul was called to confront the Body of believers about behaviors unbecoming to Christ.  Paul cared enough to confront, not for his own power or prestige, not to lord over them in Pharisaical fashion that he knew in his former life, but with a Spirit of Love, the love of Christ in him.  His “gain” was to bring them to a greater understanding of what becoming like Jesus is and what that looks like as we relate to each other in the Body.  This is the motivation—the great love that we have for Jesus and the Body of Christ—his church.  Paul was the ordained, a called apostle sent with authority, full of the Spirit of love for God’s people, to do what God gave him to do.

When behaviors hurt, distract and cause the Body of Christ to stray, leaders with authority must care enough to confront, carefully guided by God, motivated by the Love of Christ for the Body.  This was Paul.  Paul is the example of keeping life real, healthy, growing in Christ, in Jesus Name, for His glory.

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 7, The Message

With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.

More Passionate, More Responsible

2-4 Trust us. We’ve never hurt a soul, never exploited or taken advantage of anyone. Don’t think I’m finding fault with you. I told you earlier that I’m with you all the way, no matter what. I have, in fact, the greatest confidence in you. If only you knew how proud I am of you! I am overwhelmed with joy despite all our troubles.

5-7 When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn’t settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn’t relax because we didn’t know how it would turn out. Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus. We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time!

8-9 I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don’t feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. Now I’m glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss.

10 Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

11-13 And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.

13-16 And then, when we saw how Titus felt—his exuberance over your response—our joy doubled. It was wonderful to see how revived and refreshed he was by everything you did. If I went out on a limb in telling Titus how great I thought you were, you didn’t cut off that limb. As it turned out, I hadn’t exaggerated one bit. Titus saw for himself that everything I had said about you was true. He can’t quit talking about it, going over again and again the story of your prompt obedience, and the dignity and sensitivity of your hospitality. He was quite overwhelmed by it all! And I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.

FOLLOW UP WITH ENCOURAGING WORDS

A great leader learns to reward what you want repeated.  I learned this as a first grade teacher.  When good behaviors were displayed, I talked about it so all could hear. The child-like faith first graders had in me as their leader, knowing how much I truly cared for their well-being, followed my lead with more positive words and behaviors for each other.  Later in years, when God called me from teaching to full time ministry in His church, this same principle of loving care and positive confrontation with follow up of encouraging words was beneficial to the growth of believers in the Body of Christ.

What Paul teaches works!  Care enough to confront, led by God, but timing is everything—God’s timing with His Spirit of Love in us.  Lay down the urge to merely criticize.  Critical words stunt our growth.  Prayerful, caring, loving, private confrontation, leads to growth.

Lord,

Whew, what a lesson in realizing the difference in our hearts, minds and souls between merely criticizing that stirs up trouble and loving confrontation that builds us and helps us to grow up in you, becoming more like you, behaving as you want us to behave.  Thank you for making us stop and think, evaluate and learn.  Help us be careful and considerate, overlooking faults and irritations, forgiving each other and loving each other like you love us.  None are perfect.  All have sinned and fall short.  Thank you for your perfect forgiveness.  Thank you for confronting me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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IN THE BEST AND IN THE WORST, GOD IS…

Posted on February 1, 2022 by randscallawayffm

When we give our complete “yes” to God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the creator of all who inhabit the earth, the One who loved us so much He sent His Son to save us from our own sins, we enter into battle—of a war that has already be won!  Wait, what?!

Yes! God has already won this war!  God has complete power over evil.  God sent His Son to save us from evil’s grip by defeating death, rising again from death and then appearing to men and women to prove it.  All humans created by God, “in the image of God”, have the opportunity to set things right with God and enjoy all the benefits of living a life in relationship to God. 

God, mighty and gentle, faithful forever, powerful and passionate, wants us to love Him back.  From beginning to end, Genesis to Revelation, that is The Message.  Love God.  Love Each Other.  Love God because He first loved us, sent His Son to save us, restoring a beautiful, intimate loving relationship with Him.

Evil wants the opposite of all God is to us.  God wants eternal life for us.  Satan, the fallen angel who was kicked out of heaven for rising up in rebellion against God, who wanted to take over and be God, now wants revenge.  Satan’s goal is death to all who believe in God, worship God and are committed wholly to God.  The more committed you are the greater the daily battle will be for our souls. 

This is what Paul is warning us about with encouragement to “stay at your post” of belief and behavior.  I’m reminded of what John, inspired by his time with Jesus and then inspired by God to write about this ongoing battle;

“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.                    1 John 4:2-6, NIV)

Yes—“greater is He that is in us that he that is in the world.”  In our worst times, when people attack us for what we are doing for God, when others slander us as we’re doing the work because they want power and recognition, when all seems to be going wrong; know GOD knows our hearts, knows the way through it, with the bonus of teaching us valuable character-building lessons that will later help others go through it!  God is amazing like that! 

God grows His character in us, teaching us who He is and what He does using HIS great power and strength.  As His children, “joint heirs with Christ”, He comes to our rescue time after time because He is compassionate.  There is no situation or circumstance that God will not help us through.  All we have to do is ask.  We lay down our independence for sheer, unadulterated dependence on God, our Father. The One and Only who loves us unconditionally.  Forever.

He sent His Best at our worst so we could have life forever with Him.

Bottom line:  God wants us to love Him back.  God wants the very best for us.  From beginning to end, Genesis to Revelation, that is The Message.  Love God.  Love Each Other.  In Jesus Name, For His Glory, Amen. 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NIV

“Jesus replied: ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”  Matthew 22:37

So, Stay at Your Post, says Paul, in belief and behavior, with a heart for God, developing the mind of Christ, with a Holy Spirit filled soul.  This is how we win the daily skirmishes with evil who wants to gain more territory in our lives.  But, how foolish of evil.  We know Jesus has already won the war!  He is our Victor forever! Be encouraged!

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 5, The Message

Staying at Our Post

1-10 Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,

I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

11-13 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

* * *

14-18 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them;
    I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
    leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
    I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you;
    you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.

Lord,

Greater are you in me that he that is in the world who opposes you.  Bring me closer still into Your Holy Presence to hear you, follow and obey you in all the details of my life.  I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  I praise you for all you have done, are doing and will do to protect me, fight for me and provide all that I need.  Thank you for equipping us for daily battle with Your Word and Holy Spirit.  Fit me for battle in the war you have already claimed victory. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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CALLED TO SETTLE

Posted on January 31, 2022 by randscallawayffm

Relationships.  The world talks about having them and walking away from them, never confronting or healing them.  The world tells us to think only of ourselves in relationships with each other.  “If it doesn’t feel good”, walk away, shut them out, “unfriend” them or block them on social media altogether.  Unfortunately, social media has become the artificial place of relationship.  We then catch ourselves wondering if relationships with each other are worth pursuing so we keep our heads down, do life with only those we trust, which are few, and hope for the best as we live each ordinary day.  We wake, eat, work, phones attached, sleep—in a life cycle that leads nowhere. 

There has to be something better! There is and Paul has it!  Read as he teaches us about the most important relationship we will ever have, the One relationship that builds all other relationships.  He tells us Who must be at the center of our lives which determines the depth of love and compassion, patience and gentleness, mercy and grace for all other relationships we will have with each other.

This really works, friends!  Early in my marriage to Randy, I discovered this important aspect of my growing relationship with Randy.  The closer I became to Jesus, accepting His love and salvation, I also was growing to realize the depth of God’s love for me.  I’ve still not realize this love yet!  It is unfathomable! But, get this, the deeper my growing realization with God’s love becomes, the deeper and richer my loving relationship becomes for Randy.  In other words, the more I realize, daily, the character of God’s limitless, forgiving, compassionate, forever love, the more dedicated my love is for Randy, our kids and grandkids and all others who live this temporary life with me.

At the center, is God’s love.  At the center of all relationships is the relationship we have with God through Jesus, His Son.  “We love Him becomes He first loved us”, says John, the beloved disciple of Jesus.  (1 John 4:19) We build glorious, rich, loving relationships with each other because of knowing His love for us.  John, again, explains;

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  1 John 4:7-8

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”  1 John 4:11-12

With this background in mind, Paul takes us deeper still with the love of God flowing from His heart for the readers.  With God’s love in us, we need to settle all relationships from the center of His love in us.  Yes, we are called to settle!  Settle and make it right.

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 5, The Message

1-5 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

9-10 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

11-14 That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.

A New Life

14-15 Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?  

  • We’re only here for a little while.
  • Jesus puts a little heaven in our hearts for what lies ahead for all who believe. 
  • Because of Jesus, who died and rose again, we also have the Hope of resurrection to live with Him forever!
  • Our focused center:  One man died for everyone.  So, we don’t evaluate each other’s merit, we love each other because God loves us.  EVERYONE gets a fresh start, a new life in Jesus, the Messiah.
  • “All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.”
  • God invites us to His work.  “God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives.” 
  • “God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them.”

SETTLE IT—ONCE AND FOR ALL!

“Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” 

“How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.”

Lord,

To settle all other relationships, we must first settle our relationship with you.  You loved me first.  Thank you!  I love you back with all my heart, mind and soul.  In the time I have left on this earth, use me as your representative to point the way to you for a fresh start with a new life and new way to relate to you and then others.  You have settled it once and for all, dear Jesus.  Thank you.  I believe.  Make my desires your desires to settle all relationships with others motivated by your love in me. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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WE’RE NOT KEEPING QUIET ABOUT THIS!

Posted on January 29, 2022 by randscallawayffm

When we get a new job, the job of our dreams, we talk about it to whoever will listen to us. We tell our family members, our friends, the person at the checkout station, the associate who routinely asks if we need help at the clothing store, the hairdresser who cuts our hair—we tell everyone of our good news!  We can’t help it.  In our heads, the music loudly plays, “I’m so Excited and I Just Can’t Hide it”!  There is no holding back of the good news we have to tell.  In our heads, our life becomes a musical and we are the lead singers to the world who needs to hear it!  (Okay, maybe that’s just me.)

I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you

The Pointer Sisters, sang this song with full throttle excitement about the loves in their lives.  But I have to tell you, when I finally gave up the idea that I had complete control over life, the good and bad, the circumstance, situations, family relationships, and all that goes with daily living and gave that control over to Jesus, I was set free!  I was so excited and I just couldn’t hide it!  When I got out of the driver’s seat and truly let Jesus “take the wheel”, (I know, bear with me, I love music), we went places I would never have gone before.  “I know, I know I know, I want you”, dear Jesus!  And I know I like it when Jesus leads me through it all—the good, bad and the ugly. 

Jesus brings me through the bad times to teach me, grow me, so I can help others in the near future who he will put in my path who are going through the same.  Jesus rejoices with me when all good things come together by Him for good in my life.  Jesus smiles when I get so excited that I just can’t hide what he has done for me and in me!  Prompted by His Holy Spirit, the excitement leads to telling everyone I know the Good News of who Jesus is and what He does as He lives in all who believe! 

With this in mind, read how exited Paul is in this next passage.  Dear Friends, can you hear the music of excitement in full crescendo building in the background.  We can almost here the choir singing, “He Lives”!

“He Lives!  He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.”

Paul, though whipped and beaten, tortured and jailed, slandered and ridiculed, will not give up telling the Good News.  The Message was not about him, it was about Jesus who saved him for eternity.  He’s so excited and he just can’t hide it!  “We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life!”

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 4, The Message

Trial and Torture

1-2 Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

3-4 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.

5-6 Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

7-12 If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

13-15 We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

THERE’S FAR MORE HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE…

If you look at us, mere humans, and are only attracted to our smiles and excitement, then you’ve missed the “brightness”, the true Light of Life, the Giver of salvation, Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus saves.  We merely point others to Him and tell of what He has done to save us and how He lives in us to guide us through good times and bad.  That’s our God, the One and Only who saves.  There is no one like our God! 

“So, we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.”

Lord,

Thank for your daily dose of relentless love, extreme joy, perfect peace, compassionate mercy as you unfold limitless amounts of your unfolding grace.  I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it.  That’s why I use this tool to write the Good News for all to read while sending the Light of Your Message to all who believe.  Your words encouraged me this morning, I pray it encourages the readers.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.

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NOW, IT’S PERSONAL!

Posted on January 28, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, KJV

For God so loved the world that He gave…

  • The Law to protect His people, but they didn’t recognize the Writer of the Law, they only debated the details of the Law.  Religious leaders of His people added their own details to the Law, thinking God needed help.  It wasn’t personal…
  • Leaders like Moses who led His people from slavery to freedom.  But the people complained and turned back to idols they could hold in their hands or monuments they could erect to wish upon like the stars in heaven.  It wasn’t personal…
  • His Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah promised, who came to save the world once and for all.  Every person who believed of all their sins.  The veil between God and mankind ripped from top to bottom when God’s plan was finished—on a cross—for all to see.  Death was then defeated and Jesus rose to life eternal, appeared to believers and commissioned them to “go and tell” the Good News of salvation for all who believe.  Now, it’s personal!  Hallelujah! 

God sent a part of Himself, Jesus, as THE way to begin a personal, intimate relationship with each one of us.  This is the most important relationship we will ever have! Get this—God knew us before birth, knows us now, and created us with purpose.  As we call on the Name of His Son, Jesus, to save us God calls us Friend and desires to walk with us daily. 

Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us, has come indeed.  Our old “do it our own messy way of life” is gone.  Our new life with Him has come.  We are free to roam the wide-open spaces of God’s relentless love, peace, comfort, mercy and grace.  God personally takes us through hard times, opening up the red seas of our troubles and walks us right through them with wisdom help when we ask for it.  God, who gave His best at our worst, loved us so much He gave His Son to stand in our place of punishment for all our sins, once and for all.  There is no one like our God!  He’s personal!

Dear Friends, imagine it! Guilt, shame, regret, washed clean from the depths of very souls.  We no longer need to carry the burdens of sins—we are redeemed by the Son of God!  Only God can make us holy.  Only God can make things right with Him.  Only God can keep us on the path to life eternal with Him.  Yes, it’s personal!  Very personal!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, KJV

Jesus sets up a new government—written and carved into our very lives!

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 3, The Message

1-3 Does it sound like we’re patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we’re not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.

4-6 We couldn’t be more sure of ourselves in this—that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn’t think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn’t written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It’s written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives!

Lifting the Veil

7-8 The Government of Death, its constitution chiseled on stone tablets, had a dazzling inaugural. Moses’ face as he delivered the tablets was so bright that day (even though it would fade soon enough) that the people of Israel could no more look right at him than stare into the sun. How much more dazzling, then, the Government of Living Spirit?

9-11 If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government of Affirmation? Bright as that old government was, it would look downright dull alongside this new one. If that makeshift arrangement impressed us, how much more this brightly shining government installed for eternity?

12-15 With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us. He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn’t notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn’t notice. They didn’t notice it then and they don’t notice it now, don’t notice that there’s nothing left behind that veil. Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can’t see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there’s nothing there.

16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

Oh Lord, My God and Savior,

Thank you for personally coming to earth to save us from all our sins.  Thank you for being with me right now as I ponder these words and write about the Good News of your salvation for others to read.  My prayer is that we all take this Good News, The Only Way to You personally, very personally.  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul.  Thank you for being my personal Friend as well as my Savior and Lord.  May your glory be seen in me today.  Help me to become more and more in every way like you.  Make your desires be my desires.  I want what You want.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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COURAGE, CONFRONTATION AND COMPASSION

Posted on January 27, 2022 by randscallawayffm

In his book Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy wrote, “Great crises produce great men and great deeds of courage.” While it is true that a crisis helps to make a person, it is also true that a crisis helps to reveal what a person is made of. Pilate faced a great crisis, but his handling of it did not give him either courage or greatness. How we handle the difficulties of life will depend largely on what kind of character we have; for what life does to us depends on what life finds in us.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In this very personal letter, Paul opened his heart to the Corinthians (and to us) and revealed the trials he had experienced. To begin with, he had been severely criticized by some of the people in Corinth because he had changed his plans and apparently not kept his promise to revisit them. When Christians misunderstand each other, the wounds can go very deep. Then, there was the problem of opposition to his apostolic authority in the church. One of the members—possibly a leader—had to be disciplined, and this gave Paul great sorrow. Finally, there were the difficult circumstances Paul had to endure in Asia (2 Cor. 1:8–11), a trial so severe that he despaired of life.

Because Paul is so in harmony with the Holy Spirit of God, tenaciously led by God Spirit, he disappoints other people at times in the work God gave him to do.  Have you ever been in this predicament as a leader?  It can be tension filled and heart wrenching to walk with God while disappointing others’ opinions and wishes.  Why?  Because you cannot both please God and man at the same time in most cases.  Yes, this happens in the church.  Yes, it hurts even more because of the deep love we have for each other. Everything about us is put to the test; love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, gentleness and all the other spiritual character traits God is growing and bearing in all of us.  The courage to ultimately stick with what God tells us to do will reveal the true character of Who and what lies within us.

The phrases “you hurt the ones you love the most” rings truer than not when striving to be who God wants you to be and do exactly what He wants.  As leaders, we must listen to God first and not be pulled by humans, no matter how much “importance” they tell us they have in the church. If, indeed, Jesus in the foundation of His church upon which our lives are built, living stone by living stone, with Jesus also being the Head of the Body of Christ (church), then who must we listen to and obey?  Jesus.

That being said, Paul teaches us to care enough to confront, love and forgive. Nothing smells so sweet as when the Body of Christ is restored to harmony with Christ. 

“We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.”  2 Cor 1:24

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 2, The Message

1-2 That’s why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us. If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me?

3-4 That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming—so I wouldn’t have to spend a miserable time disappointing the very friends I had looked forward to cheering me up. I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you. As it turned out, there was pain enough just in writing that letter, more tears than ink on the parchment. But I didn’t write it to cause pain; I wrote it so you would know how much I care—oh, more than care—love you!

5-8 Now, regarding the one who started all this—the person in question who caused all this pain—I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few exceptions, all of you. So I don’t want to come down too hard. What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough. Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love.

9-11 The focus of my letter wasn’t on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!

An Open Door

12-14 When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn’t find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn’t relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God!

14-16 In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

16-17 This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.

GOD GIVE US OPEN DOORS! 

What fragrance to we have when we walk into a room?

Are we compared to the teenage boy who is now trying to attract the opposite sex, whose overpowering fragrance comes wafting through the doors before he does? Or like a sweet-smelling oil that draws people to the Jesus in us while glorifying the God who leads us?  This is where Paul is leading us in his illustration.

Paul was sure that God was using him as He was leading him (vv. 14c–17). As the Roman priests burned the incense in the parade, that odor affected different people in different ways. To the triumphant soldiers, it meant life and victory; but to the conquered enemy, it meant defeat and death. They were on their way to be killed by the beasts.

Using this image of the incense, Paul pictured the Christian ministry. He saw believers as incense, giving forth the fragrance of Jesus Christ in their lives and labors. To God, believers are the very fragrance of Jesus Christ. To other believers, we are the fragrance of life; but to unbelievers, we are the fragrance of death. In other words, the Christian life and ministry are matters of life and death. The way we live and work can mean life or death to a lost world around us.

So, how do we smell?  It is a matter of life and death to the lost.

Paul closes this portion of his letter with God’s best—

“We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.”

Lord, Because of your teaching, this is my prayer,

Tell me what to say, with your love of compassion flowing from my heart, sincerely and honestly.  May the sweet aroma of your presence in and around me, draw people to you, dear Jesus, the One who resides and abides in me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, So others may know and follow, too, Amen.

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MOTIVATIONS MATTER

Posted on January 26, 2022 by randscallawayffm

“Because I said so!”  Admit it, when frustrated as parents, running out of words to compel our kids to do the right thing, we end of shouting what our parents said to us.  We said we never say those words (before being parents) and then one day it happens.  The words flow out quickly, easily and unrestrained.  “Do it because I said so!”  This is usually followed by a heavy sigh with a bit of regret.  You know it’s not your best teachable moment, on a quick fix from frustration.  We want our kids to do the right thing because they want to, motivated by growing inner character with good hearts and great minds; not by us consistently standing over their shoulders. 

Is there a way to encourage right behavior without constant words and your presence?  Yes, there is.

  • Model what we teach.  Kids pick up on fakes and phonies quickly at a very early age.  Consistency is key.  Know that much of what is taught is caught through our behavior.
  • Talk while you walk through life.  Give reasons for actions we are taking in our own lives. 
  • Allow failure and consequences as learning opportunities for growth. 
  • Downplay criticisms.  Follow through with encouragement, care, relentless love, forgiveness with a fresh beginning.
  • Be Christ-like in all our relationships, showing respect and dignity to every human we come in contact with in our journey to be more and more like Jesus.
  • Don’t hide our own failures, show them how to deal with failure.
  • Care for others as others cared for us, bringing our kids into the process. They learn best by being with us.
  • Wrap all this up in prayer to our Master Teacher, Jesus, who taught his young followers to pray.  As we remember, his disciples were motivated to learn to pray by watching Jesus pray.  Do we see the powerful lesson here?  Let them see you praying as often as possible. 

Paul, sent on mission by Jesus, to teach new believers the ways of God, cannot revisit the church in person so he sends a follow up letter to be read to the all who will hear.  He begins by reminding them WHO we follow and who we are in Christ because of what HE did for us.  Listen in to his teaching…like a parent to his children…much more than “because I said so!”

CORINTHIANS—CALLED AND SENT

2 Corinthians 1, The Message

1-2 I, Paul, have been sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus, planned by God himself. I write this to God’s congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours! Timothy, someone you know and trust, joins me in this greeting.

The Rescue

3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

6-7 When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.

8-11 We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don’t want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.

12-14 Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don’t try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We’re writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you’ll now see the whole picture as well as you’ve seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus.

15-16 Confident of your welcome, I had originally planned two great visits with you—coming by on my way to Macedonia province, and then again on my return trip. Then we could have had a bon-voyage party as you sent me off to Judea. That was the plan.

17-19 Are you now going to accuse me of flip-flopping with my promises because it didn’t work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth—a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next? Well, you’re wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn’t a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn’t it a clean, strong Yes?

20-22 Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

23 Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn’t visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn’t come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative.

24 We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.

WHAT WE LEARN—

Paul plans but God decides.  Paul makes that very clear.   He is “on mission by Jesus, planned by God.”

Come-alongside-ministry.  God brings us through hard times so we can help others go through hard times!  What God teaches us is that valuable and appropriate to help others!  Who helps you? Think about all these people and stop to give God praises for them.  Then praise God for all he brought you through and who He sent in your path to help.  Friends, don’t you love this teaching?  The reward?  A full measure of Jesus’ comfort and healing!

“When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.” 

“Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!”  This is what we learn in dark, confusing, troubling hard times in our lives.  Trust Jesus.  Always.  God has the power to raise the dead!  He has the power to see us through anything we will face on this earth!

“Prayers play a crucial part.”  Constant communication with the One and Only who has all the power to see us through the good times and bad times is key to thriving as opposed to merely surviving.  Prayer keeps us focused on Jesus, our Master.  Prayer brings us closer to the power we need to overcome adversity.  Prayer is listening, being still, letting go of our own way, so we can hear what God has to say.  Prayer opens our eyes to better vision, seeing with a wider scope, with a different perspective.  Prayer is crucial to daily living a more holy life guided by God’s Holy Spirit who lives in us. 

“It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised.”  When in doubt, when the hard times come, look up.  God will keep us on tract, in his will, for our good.

Be flexible, joyfully expectant, ready to go or stay.  We plan, but God decides.  Follow God’s leading.  Authentic leaders, like Paul, are flexible, ready to change course as the Holy Spirit leads.

It’s God’s work, not ours.  “God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.”  See also Philippians 1.  “He who began a good work in you will complete it.”

“We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.”  In other words, they are now motivated by the One Paul is motivated by—not just “because I said so” we can almost hear Paul say. 

Lord,

Thank you for your teaching this morning.  Thank you for reminding us that we are all partners, working alongside each other, with different gifts and abilities but with one purpose, one desire to follow you, the One and Only.  You are Life, our reason to live and breathe.  You are our Hope of eternal life.  You are our Savior and our Lord, dear Jesus.  You are our Master Teacher.  Continue to work out your salvation in me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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