THE FOUNDATION IS LOVE

Posted on July 15, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I’m remembering a precious, humorous moment in my life as a first grade public school teacher.  There I was with a group of eight sitting around the kidney shaped table in the far corner of the room so I could see what the other students are doing while teaching the foundations of reading to this smaller group.  My eyes are on them.  Their little eyes are on me. 

I’m passionately teaching them how words are put together by symbols and sounds.  I feel like they are clued in and eager to learn.  So, I get excited!  When I finished extolling the simplicity of vowels and consonants coming together to make our words, a little girl leaned in close.  I couldn’t wait for her response because I was feeling so good about what I just taught because of their attentiveness that day.  She pointed to my neck and said, “Mrs. Callaway, I love that necklace you’re wearing!”  After a big sigh and thinking, “did you not hear anything I just said”, we talked about my necklace.  Perhaps another day we will have comprehension was my next thought.

We all get so distracted by the shiny objects of this world, don’t we?  We get confused by all the voices telling us to do this or be that.  We forget the Truth and the simplicity of Truth.  We forget the foundation upon which all of life’s relationships are based upon. 

Jesus is constantly interrupted by the pesky religious elite who try to find fault in his teaching.  I wonder how many times Jesus let out a long sigh while sparring with the religious elite who did nothing but hate with determined goals to trap and bait Him in the middle of His ministry?  Seriously, they slice and dice every word that comes from His mouth while missing the point completely because they have lost the ability to love God and love others.  Jesus goes over this basic foundation of love that all other commandments are based upon.  Do we have comprehension yet?  Not quite…

I’m reminded of Paul’s letter to the early church.  He also takes learners back to the foundation of love as being the “greatest” among all other characteristics of Jesus that we must imitate.  It seemed the church then forgot, too.  Paul preaches we can have faith, believing in God.  We can do good things for others, we can give away all we have to help those in need, but if we do not have love, our lives are nothing but a lot of noise coupled with pride and arrogance.  Paul describes God’s love as;

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”     1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13, NLT

Truly this discussion about Love began with Jesus’ reply to the religious who had no relationship with God.  Love God.  Love Others.  If we, too, truly took this seriously, we would revolutionize the world.  This is Love.  This is Jesus, the One and Only sent by God because of God’s love to us.

“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, NIV

John, Jesus’ beloved disciple, explains the foundation of love with clarity.  Love is of God.  If we don’t know God, says John, then we don’t know what love is.  “I Wanna Know What Love Is”, cries out the singer of a popular song in the eighties, but do we?

God’s Love and Ours

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 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 4:7-12, NIV

God is Love

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:16-18, NIV

Love God, Love each Other

“We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”                     1 John 4:19-21, NIV

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 22:34-40, NLT

The Most Important Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Can we see now why all other commandments are based on Love?  If not, want to see my necklace?

Lord,

Help us to love like you love us.  We love only because you first loved us.  Real Life is about your love as the true foundation for all loving, forever relationships. Yes, I want to love like that.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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READ ALL ABOUT HIM!

Posted on July 14, 2021 by randscallawayffm

We are a people who do not read more than five words in a row!  Is this too harsh?  For some of you reading this, I have already lost you.  Some of you will just look at the pictures.  Laughing, because I catch myself doing the same!

We are too busy, too distracted, too this and too that today.  Guess what, Jesus points out that the Sadducees were indeed, “sad-you-see” because they didn’t read God’s Word to understand Truth.  They read only enough to form an opinion of God while forming a whole tribal religion (denomination) that did not know the power of God to resurrect the dead to life with Him forever.  Sad-you-see.  They also didn’t realize the relationship with God they could have had by knowing Him.  We must ask ourselves;

Do we really believe God?

Do we really know the power of God? 

Do we know Him from reading about God? 

Do we believe in the resurrection of our souls, who we are in Christ, after these temporary bodies wear out?

Do we truly believe what Jesus teaches?  Do we live it?

Do we let others tell us what to believe without reading and studying for ourselves?  How’s that going for us?  Usually, not well.  This is why Jesus tells our sad little selves, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” 

“YOU DON’T KNOW THE SCRIPTURES OR THE POWER OF GOD” –JESUS

These words of Jesus jump off the page to me this morning.  We don’t know Him because we don’t read.  We miss knowing about God and who He is when we don’t read His Word!  Talk about FOMO! (Fear of Missing Out)

We could be reading about the Peace that comes from knowing God.  We could be reading about how Love overwhelms us when we realize the depth of His love for us.  Anxieties and fears dissipate, like fog when the sun rises, when we read that God’s power fights all our battles from the inside out and outside in!  We read Truth that God is FOR us, not against us.  We read that God is ALWAYS with us.  Always.  Let this Truth sink in and settle our souls today.  Read Truth for yourselves!  To read His Word is like reading a love letter from God to us!  How much we love God and want to hear from Him might be the measure of our love for Him and for others.  

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5, NIV

Jesus is the walking Word of God who is teaching the world that the religious have made mistakes because they don’t know The Word.   I wonder how many mistakes we make in our walk and speech because we don’t really know what The Word says.  I wonder how many times I have fallen in my faith because I didn’t know or tap into the power of God?  Too many times, my friends, way too many! 

I was blessed by mentors who encouraged me to not only read but to memorize!  Right now, I’m recalling many passages of God’s strength and power against worldview thinking prompted by the enemy of God.  Here is a favorite of mine that restores the power of God in me.  Take a look at 1 John 4:4-6;

“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. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 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.”

WE are not great but God who lives in us IS the great one who alerts and delivers us from worldview thinking that is not Truth and protects us from the enemy’s lies.  When we read His Word prayerfully asking for clarity, His Holy Spirit living in us gives us greater understanding of Truth.  Those not from God do not know God because they choose to not read about Him.  This is their mistake—not knowing because they didn’t read to know Truth.

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 22:23-33, NLT

Discussion about Resurrection

23 That same day Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.’ 25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow. 26 But the second brother also died, and the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them. 27 Last of all, the woman also died. 28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”

29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. 30 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.

31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”

33 When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching.

THINK ABOUT IT—

We, too, can be “astounded” by reading Jesus’ teaching about the Truth of God. 

“Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

Lord, God of all,

Thank you for your Word that speaks of you, telling us how much we are loved and showing us the way to life forever with you.  Thank you for helping us see and understand the power that is available to us merely by asking.  Lord, today we ask for wisdom, clarity, insight and understanding so that we may know you more and more.  Teach me, for I am your servant, student, friend, as well as your child.  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BELONG

Posted on July 13, 2021 by randscallawayffm

There are all kinds of opinions and thought in this world that are confusing and makes us wonder why debates end in even more confusion. Not much gets “settled” in most debates because Truth gets lost in the arguments.  Some think that God is not real, so we debate and defend Him, which is weird.  God does not need our defense!  He is God!  Some think whatever you know about God is your truth.  That is even more weird. 

Politically, some people in our country think that the government (the people we voted to be in these positions of governing) are out to “get us”, conspire against the people who elected them, so that the people (who they are one of us) will fail in all we do.  Yes, I know this sounds like a simplistic overstatement.  But some days the words from the debaters think this way in their indifferent living.  I think some folks will be against “it”, whatever “it” happens to be because arguing is their best game in life.  It doesn’t seem to be about seeking Truth, only to fight.

Generation after generation pick up the “me against the world” thinking with the same tired arguments that do not match the wisdom of God’s Word.  The innocent bystanders hearing these arguments and debates, who are trying to find Truth and live it, hear only the loud and proud, the arrogant and relentless who love to fight to get their own way. 

Is it any wonder that God sent His Son, His plan from the beginning of Creation, to save us from all the lies of worldview thinking, thoughts planted by the fallen angel and his demons, in the minds of the willing to follow evil who have nothing in life better to do than fight for the right to justify their sins to reconcile us to Truth? 

The Pharisees are these people.  These leaders are working around the clock as religious political agents trying to keep everyone under their control.  They work hard to not ruffle the feathers of the oppressive Roman government while being oppressive to the Jewish Nation, God’s Chosen with all kinds of manmade laws and addendums to God’s Law.  They are a selfish, arrogant, proud people who are work to justify their sin-living by tearing down the Truth-teaching of Jesus Christ, Son of God, sent from God to save the world from the lies of the “religious”. 

Jesus came to restore the relationship between God and mankind with His obedient sacrifice for all who believe.  Jesus says and does only what God, His Father, tells Him to say and do.  Jesus enters the debate trap set by the religious with the wisdom of God. Jesus ends it with only a few words.  These words do not hurt anyone.  Jesus’ words settle the issue of what is of God and what is not.  Simple put, Jesus tell us what belongs to God and what does not.

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 22:15-22, NLT

Taxes for Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.

AND WHAT BELONGS TO GOD? 

Our hearts, minds and souls.  Give all we are to all of Him.  This is Truth to be lived.

Lord,

Thank you for another lesson that settles our souls with what you require of us.  You want all of us to be guided, loved, protected, and provided for, by all of You because You know best what we need and you are Truth.  After the dust of selfish arguments settle to the ground, Your Truth remains unchanging.  Your Word is Truth.  Jesus is Truth.  No argument there.  Thank you for your example of living Truth.  Help us to follow your example.  Transform our thinking to match your thinking.  Yes, Lord, make us holy before you. Cleanse us of all the dark places.  Renew us.  Restore the joy of your salvation that is being worked into every fiber of our being.  Thank you, Lord.  I belong to You.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE INVITATION

Posted on July 12, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What an honor it is to be invited to a celebration of someone we love and admire greatly!  Upon getting the invitation, we begin to plan what we will wear that is appropriate for the occasion all because of our excitement to be included!  We set aside all other tasks and events on our busy schedules, for this celebration is top priority.  We mark our calendars and put stars all over the date.  We tell our family members the date because this event will be the ONE we can all attend so we tell them to get ready for it! 

Later, we find out we can invite other friends as well as our family.  So, we do!  We tell them of this special celebration that they can not miss.  We tell them they are all invited by the One we love and honor!  We are so enthusiastic and excited for the day to come.  We get ready by removing all obstacles of busy schedules and other life stuff that might get in the way of the big day! 

Because we want to prepared for the party, we google all there is to know about our Host.  We discover there is a whole book dedicated to Him, written by Him, about Him!  So, we study The Book from cover to cover!  We read what He says, what He did and who else He invited.  Yes, we are expecting the One who invited us, to pull out all He has for His party!

But as the day approaches, someone, some thing, some big task, some disappointment, some obstacle, some shiny object gets our attention and we don’t go to the party of the One who we said we love and honor.  We ignore the invitation altogether.  Wait, what?!

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 22:1-14, NLT

Parable of the Great Feast

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. 3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ 5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. 8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ 10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. 13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

THINK ABOUT IT…THE REST OF THE STORY

Warren Wiersbe, Commentator, states; “The period described in this parable must be after His resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Father is still inviting the people of Israel to come, in spite of what they did to His Son.”

“This is a picture of God’s dealing with Israel. They rejected the Father when they refused to obey John the Baptist’s preaching. Israel rejected the Son when they arrested Him and crucified Him. In His grace and patience, God sent other witnesses. The Holy Spirit came on the early believers and they witnessed with great power that Jesus was alive and the nation could be saved (Acts 2:32–36; 3:19–26). The miracles they did were proof that God was at work in and through them. But Israel also rejected the Holy Spirit!”

“The rulers rejected the witness of the Spirit, and this brought final judgment. They had rejected the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and there were no more opportunities left.”

WEARING THE PROPER CLOTHES EXPLAINED…

Again, Weirsbe helps us to understand; “The wedding garment was provided by the host so that everybody was properly attired and the poor did not feel conspicuous. Salvation is personal and individual. We must accept what God gives to us—the righteousness of Christ—and not try to make it on our own. Since these parables had a definite national emphasis, this personal emphasis at the end was most important.”

“The nation’s leaders were guilty of spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and deliberate disobedience to the Word. Instead of accepting this indictment from Jesus, and repenting, they decided to attack Him and argue with Him. The result: judgment. We should be careful not to follow their example of disobedience.”

In other words, God sees our hearts and knows how sincerely repentant we are and will respond to us generously with His love and forgiveness through Jesus, His Son. 

Paul tells us how to dress and writes, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”  Colossians 3:14-17

Invitation has been given.  Paul tells us how to dress for the party with Jesus.  Jesus tells us what is expected.  We just have to say, “Yes!  I’m coming, Lord!”

Abba, Father in Heaven, Lord of our lives,

Thank you for the invitation of life eternal with you to celebrate at your house forever!  Thank you, Lord for dying for my sins.  Thank you for rising again, defeating death as proof of our faith and certainty of our hope.  Thank you for help me prepare for the party with the right clothes for my heart, mind and soul.  Thank you, Holy Spirit for coming to live in my heart to direct and correct my walk.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in our preparation.  You have my full attention.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHEN THE STORY HITS CLOSE TO HOME…

Posted on July 10, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Sometimes the disciples and followers of Jesus had to ask what his parable implied or what it meant for them. But the story He tells in this passage of Matthew is pretty clear to all who are listening.  Jesus knows His time is coming to be crucified.  Jesus also knows who is instigating the process to have him killed.  He also knows who will betray him with a kiss at the time of His arrest.  He knows every detail that will happen in the days to come because He knows the prophecies of God written long before this week of rejection.  Jesus wants the religious leaders to know He knows.  So, He tells this story…

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 21:33-46, NLT

Parable of the Evil Farmers

33 “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

37 “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

38 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

40 “When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

41 The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.’

43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

THINK ABOUT IT…

In this world today, some people still reject Jesus, use His Name while swearing obscenities, while ignoring His free salvation with help to live life well.  To those who believe, repent, love God and others, hang tough to His teaching, and cling to Jesus, He is the cornerstone of the life we are building in Him and He in us.  We are the fruits of His labor of love in us.  “This is the secret”, writes Paul, “Christ in us!”  That’s how life works best!

Does this story hit close to your home?

Don’t reject Jesus. Come to Him with an honest, repentant heart and accept what He has to offer—freedom.  Be finally free from all regrets, past sins, current sins and wonderings about life.  Say yes to Jesus and allow Him to be the cornerstone of a new life with Him.  Your life will be not be without problems but you will have His power and perspective to solve problems.  His love grows exponentially as we love others with His love in us.  The world will no longer have a hold on us because we will have perfect help in our response to the world.  Jesus was, is and always will be our cornerstone to a life well lived, full of love, mercy and grace.  Let Jesus change the way we think.  Live life with no regrets.

There’s no other way…

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –Jesus (John 14:6)

Father, Lord of our lives,

We come to you with gratefulness for all you have done to get us to where we are now!  You died to save us and then defeated death and rose to life to give us hope of resurrection with you!  You are the way to Truth which gives life eternal!  Thank you, Lord.  To you be all glory!  You are my cornerstone.  Continue the construction of my heart, mind and soul.  I know you are not finished with me, yet!  But I know the Foundation upon which I’m built!

In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

In ev’ry rough and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the vale.
When all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

Christ alone
Cornerstone
Weak made strong
In the Saviour’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all

Not earth, nor hell, my soul can move;
I rest upon unchanging love.
I trust his righteous character,
his counsel, promise, and his pow’r. [Refrain]

When he shall come with trumpet sound,
oh, may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

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JUST DOING IT!

Posted on July 9, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Here’s the story of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up three very lovely girls…

Remember this catchy theme song from eighties?  It was written for the family show, Brady Bunch. You know this song so well I’m sure you can finish singing the rest of it without thinking too hard.  And now, that song will be stuck in your head all day long, right?  The Brady’s attempted to show family life that ended with some sort of moral lesson like, “Mom always said, don’t play ball in the house” and other teachable moments about obedience coupled with consequences.  The Brady’s always figured out what was best by the end of the story.  Do we figure it out in real life?  And what is “it”?

As believers, we say we know God but we don’t always do what He says.  We say we love God but we are sluggish in following Him.  We say it is important to obey God but we are not quick to do it.  God invites us to His work and we say yes, but then we don’t do it, we just talk about doing it.  We even talk about how others should be doing it!

Jesus has a story about this condition of obedience that is detrimental to our spiritual health.  The symptom that first appears is when God asks believers to move with Him to His higher ground thinking, to worry less and learn more about Him, to help someone in need and point the way to Him, or to stop what you are doing and listen to a brother or sister who needs an ear of understanding and compassion.  We say “yes, Lord” at the end of a sermon on Sunday, but on Monday morning and through the week, do we actually do what we agreed with the Lord to do?

We know we can do better. Right?  I pray we can.

Jesus tells a story about obedience aimed at the “church of the elite” powerful leaders who say they work for God but don’t do what God says.  Jesus always tells the best stories to get us to understand His best for us.  Jesus follows with a clear statement about the consequences of disobedience.  He uses a Father and his two sons to illustrate spiritual Truth.  If you have kids, you can relate well to this story.  The older son honestly said no at first but then did what was asked of him.  The younger son said yes to get his father off his back, as was his habit, but he had no intention of doing what was asked.

Friends, are we like the second son?  To God’s face, we say yes, but do we actually show up and do it?  Do we want to please God—or not?  Do we want to be part of His Kingdom—or not?  People who change their minds about God and really do what He says will be first to enter the Kingdom of God says Jesus!

Are we growing and maturing in our faith?  The answer is revealed in our behavior. 

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 21:28-32, NLT

Parable of the Two Sons

28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.

31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?”

They replied, “The first.”

Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

Lord,

We repent of saying yes to you with no follow through obedience.  Show us your plan and purpose.  We desire to do what you want for we know without doubt your way is always the best way.  I may ask, “are you sure, Lord”, that you want me to do certain tasks, so change my mind to line up with Your thinking.  I want to be more like you and a lot less like me!  Transform my thinking and resulting behavior.  To you be all glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AUTHORITY, POWER AND SELF-CONTROL

Posted on July 8, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Control.  We want it.  We think we have it until we don’t.   We love having control over our lives.  We like to plan and control all the outcomes.  We can play this game for only so long until our plan fails and everything falls apart—especially when it is not what God had in mind or when circumstances beyond our control happen. What is our response? Self-control or angry seeking of more control?

What we really need is self-control as we realize all control belongs to God. There is a difference between self-control and supreme control.  Self-control is giving up all control to God.  Have I confused you, yet?  We cannot predict what will happen in the next hour, day or weeks ahead.  By calling on the help and power of God’s Holy Spirit, we manage our self-controlled response to what happens.  Self-control is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.  It comes at the end of the list.  It is probably the hardest fruit for us to grow and bear.  It requires giving up control that we think we have and growing in the self-control response according to what God wants in our lives.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Galatians 22-23

We begin to grow in self-control responses in life with Christ when we lay our lives before Him;

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”  Romans 12:1-2, Msg

Friends, give God complete control.  Allow the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of self-control in us as we respond to all that happens around us.  All the above mentioned “fruits” are the characteristic behaviors of God exhibited in Jesus!  Want to be like Jesus?  Give up control to the Holy Spirit’s powerful work inside us to grow and bear the fruits of His Spirit.  If we get in the way with our selfish clinging to worldview thinking and behaving, we hinder our growth.  Lasting change only happens by the power of God’s Spirit.  We cannot just decide to change on our own without His help.  That’s still holding on to control.  We must lay down our lives before Him each day and ask Him to transform our thinking and behaving. This is healthy, growing self-control fruit that bears more holy behaviors.

Self-control is exhibited in Jesus, who is our Perfect example of “fruit bearing” in our next passage in Matthew.  When questioned about His authority, He could have destroyed them with just a word.  Instead, he asked them a question that stumped the religious leaders trying to trap Him so they could kill Him.  His time was approaching to complete the mission—but not today.  Self-control of Jesus was giving complete control to God and His Plan.  The Plan was to save us all from sin and pay the debt through sacrifice once and for all.  But not today.

Authority is the question of the day, but ultimate self-control is what I see in Jesus when I read this passage. 

What do you see?

Matthew—God’s Word Fulfilled

Matthew 21:23-27, NLT

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

24 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 25 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.

Lord,

I lay my life before you.  We don’t know what you know.  So, reveal what you want then help me to think, say and do what you ask.  Continue to transform my thinking and ultimate behaving as I grow closer to you.  Give me wisdom in this world to respond with self-control knowing you have complete control over every situation and circumstance. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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MY HOUSE!

Posted on July 7, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Imagine strangers coming into your home who didn’t think like you, set up shop, took over and behaved in ways that hurt people rather than help them.  You’re probably already thinking, why are they in my home, period?!  I would not want anyone but my family in my home!  Okay, let’s go a bit farther in our analogy, what if these strangers were like carnival people in a side show who shout at you to play their games?  What if they set up a store to sell trinkets of religion along with animals to sacrifice in your yard around your home?  What if this yard market was not only condoned by the religious elite but encouraged because they took a fee under the tables for demanding the people to buy from these people?  AND what if the prices cheated the customers who came to your house and yard in order to make more and more money for themselves?  Whew, enough!  What would you do?

Anyone who would desecrate your home with obscene behaviors would be thrown out.  Right?  Jesus drives out the evil that has come to set up shop in His House, the Temple.  On His way to the cross for all sins of the world, Jesus cleans His House and curses a fig tree that bears no fruit as a way to teach yet another lesson to His disciples with the truth about the sins of the nation of Israel.  “My Temple will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned into a den of thieves.”  And to the religious in power over the people, “May you never bear fruit again!” 

Matthew—God’s Prophecy Fulfilled

Matthew 21:12-17, NLT

Jesus Clears the Temple

12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

But the leaders were indignant. 16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” 17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.

20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

THINK ABOUT IT…

Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the temple, and He cursed a fig tree. Both acts were contrary to His usual manner of ministry, for He did not come to earth to judge, but to save (John 3:17). Both of these acts revealed the hypocrisy of Israel: The temple was a den of thieves, and the nation (symbolized by the fig tree) was without fruit. Inward corruption and outward fruitlessness were evidences of their hypocrisy.  God hates liars and playactors.  Jesus portrayed the character of God in his actions and was led by God to clean His House of Prayer, The Temple.

What does God require of us? 

We refer always back to the prophet Micah: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) We walk with God, do what He wants, guided by His Holy Spirit of Truth, love, mercy and grace.  We won’t be asked to cleanse the temple but we are asked to bear the fruits of His Holy Spirit, the character of God.  Judgements are left to God.  We protect what we know is good and God will do the rest. 

What are the fruits?  Glad you asked!

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  Galatians 5:22-26, NIV

PAUSE TO REFLECT…AND PRAY

What fruits of His Holy Spirit are growing in me?

ONE LAST THOUGHT…

While we can make a personal application of this event, the main interpretation has to do with Israel. The time of judgment had come. The sentence was pronounced by the Judge, but it would not be executed for about forty years. Then Rome would come and destroy the city and temple and scatter the people.

Jesus used this event to teach His disciples a practical lesson about faith and prayer. The temple was supposed to be a “house of prayer,” and the nation was to be a believing people. But both of these essentials were missing. We too must beware of the dangers of stagnant, fruitless living.  So, we ask God to grow His fruit in us that lasts for eternity.  His fruit is good.  “Taste and see”, says the Lord!  (Psalm 34:8)

Abba, our Father in Heaven, Lord of our lives,

Hallowed and holy is Your very Name.  May Your Kingdom come and reign in us and be seen all around us.  May Your will be done on earth in every detail of our lives here as it is in heaven.  Give us this day a revelation of your power and glory.  And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil and all that is not You.  For you have all power to do this in us.  When we begin to bear the fruits of Your character, we will give YOU all the glory, honor and praise!  Grow us. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHO IS THIS?

Posted on July 6, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Before Billy Graham, a great man of God, would arrive at any large city to present the gospel in an evangelistic crusade, he sent an advance team.  Billy Graham, with his “sold out to Jesus” team, would network with city church leaders in the area to help spread the news of the event, train people to pray with those seeking a relationship with Jesus along with “after care” training by reminding church leaders that they would need to help these new believers grow in their faith.  Genius—and scriptural.

Graham’s team would train leaders to train leaders!  It was important for as many as possible to join the work God was about to do in their midst.  This plan was genius so obviously the plan came from God.  Yes, led by God, all for the glory of God!  Billy’s call from God was a passionate plea to point people to Jesus, not Billy.  Billy was a humble servant who had a passion for Jesus to bring people to Jesus, not himself.  Yes, I said that twice because we need to be reminded.  Television audiences grew and many souls were saved by God’s work through Billy and the teams who were trained.

I think of this process of telling the Good News as we read our next passage in Matthew’s gospel.  Jesus, with determination, “with his face set for Jerusalem” is now getting ready to enter the City where His mission will be made complete.  Jesus’ advance team were the prophets, who centuries earlier said and wrote about the King, the Savior of the world, who would enter riding a donkey’s colt…a colt that had never been ridden before Jesus got on its back. 

Jesus has prepared and trained his current advance team.  Jesus has been teaching his disciples for three years of this moment of “triumphant” entry and what would happen in a few days with mocking, spitting, and being nailed to a cross, “lifted up” to die for all the sins of the world.  But they still don’t quite understand it all—yet.  Jesus “advance team” is given a few directions at a time which is all they can probably handle for now.

“Go into the village…you will see a donkey and its colt…untie them and bring them to me.”  Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking?  I’m trying to imagine that right now.  They love Jesus so much, they gave up work and family to travel with Him and they have learned so much from Him, so much so, that they just do what He tells them to do.  Jesus has preached to crowds, healed many with power from God, saying “I only do what the Father tells me to do and I say what He tells me to say.”  Jesus has gained popularity for what He has done among the people. 

His followers see Jesus get away to pray by Himself and they wonder what He is asking God in conversation with God.  But they witness the results of being with God in prayer.  The disciples did have enough courage to ask Jesus to teach them to pray to God like He does—so Jesus did.  This is what they know.

They will indeed need to pray like Jesus, with sincere hearts, for they will be facing extreme fear and confusion that will come after the praise. Jesus will soon be arrested with false charges.  He will be tortured by those who asked, “Who is this?”  The religious elite will finally get their way by manipulating the Roman government to crucify the One who is getting in their way, the Messiah, the One they have read about but did not recognize. 

Jesus, the One and Only will soon take away the sins of the world!  But for now, according the prophets, he will ride into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt to be praised by all who know Him and have been helped by Him.  They answer the question, “Who is this?”, with shouts of “Hosanna, praise God!” “Jesus, son of David, has come to save us!” 

The word hosanna (Latin osanna, Greek ὡσαννά, hōsanná) is from Hebrew הושיעה־נא, הושיעה נא hôšîʿâ-nā and related to Aramaic ܐܘܿܫܲܥܢܵܐ ʾōshaʿnā) meaning ‘save, rescue, savior’. The very words of praise describe who this is indeed–Hosanna!  God has come to save us!” 

Jesus, the One and Only Messiah, sent by God, recognized by all who believe, will fulfill what the prophets said as He completes His mission from God, the Father.  THIS is who Jesus is!

Matthew—God’s Law Fulfilled

Matthew 21:1-11, NLT

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Praise God in highest heaven!”

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

PAUSE TO REFLECT AND PRAY

Who is Jesus?

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

Does our behavior in thought, conversation, and action reflect what we say we believe?

Can we answer the question, “Who is this?” with all confidence because of Christ living in us?

Lord, I believe.  I believe exactly what happened, happened.  I know you and love you so much that I long to know and love you more…with all that is in me.  Continue to speak to my heart all day long as I answer these questions with confidence.  I’m learning that extreme faith in you IS our confidence.  Yes, hosanna, you saved me!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I give my life to you, all of it, all the broken pieces, all the messed-up parts, along with the good, I give to you.  May all you ask me to be and do be done for your glory and praise!  Teach me, Lord.  For I still have a lot to learn.

In Jesus Name, Amen 

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WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

Posted on July 5, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When we come to the end of ourselves, we might sit and cry, beg for help from our family or close friends. We might even call “time out” in life and just sit in a pool of pity.  We are tired of not being able to fix it—whatever “it” is.  We don’t know what is next, how our perplexing problem will be solved or who will come to help us.  We just know we can no longer live like this. 

What if Jesus, who you knew was the Only One who could help you, suddenly walked close by and talked to you–right where you are—at your lowest, sitting in the dirt, waiting to be lifted up, restored, loved, healed and accepted.  Your mind might be filled with all kinds of thoughts of what you might say.  The One is nearby who could remedy the situation.  You can only think to cry out, Jesus, Son of David, to acknowledge you know who He is.  You add the words, “have mercy”, because you know HE is the only One who can deliver you.  Jesus is Messiah, Deliverer, Healer, Provider, Son of God.  Jesus has the power to bring you out of trouble and pain. So, you blurt out the cry for help!

Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Why would Jesus ask this question when it seems obvious to us and to them what the blind men needed most?  Maybe Jesus wanted to them to “see” what was the most important to them—their faith in Him.  What do you want most from Me?  “We want to see!”  What Jesus could “see” was their hearts.  Jesus healed their sight instantly.  But that’s not all.  They rose from the dirt of begging to following their Healer.  The now sighted men could have gone back to their former work, family and friends and way of life.  But they chose to follow the Son of David who showed mercy on the road that day that changed their lives forever.

Sometime I wonder if we frantically cry out to Jesus for mercy while throwing up our hands in confusion when we might be more productive to think about what we really want Jesus to do in our own lives.  Jesus might be asking you and I the same faith question, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

Matthew—God’s Law Fulfilled

Matthew 20:29-33, NLT

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

Lord, I want to see.  I want to see you and understand you.  I want to know you more.  I want to realize the depth of your love for me so I can love more freely like you.  I want hear your voice and follow you.  No matter what is going on around me, or how perplexing problems might appear, I want you to restore me and give me wisdom for this journey.  Finally, I want to hear you above all other voices so I can follow you without hesitation in pure faith and trust.  Have mercy on me.  I want to see.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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