INSPECT THE FOUNDATION

Posted on March 1, 2018 by randscallawayffm
1 Corinthians – Belief and Behavior
 
A few years ago a new hotel was being built near us. The location was superb. It was constructed within site of the busy interstate highway. There was only one problem. No one inspected the foundation. It was the popular news story of the day. The foundation was on “sinking sand” that would be unsafe for the many floors that would be built upon it. The whole structure had to be torn down and started over with the right foundation. Costly.
 
My husband was an engineer tech at the time, the one who went to construction sites of large structures. He quipped, “My company wasn’t called in to inspect as they should have! No wonder it was about to fall in.” Randy took pride in his work as the inspector of soils, concrete and asphalt foundations. It was very similar to the kind of work he did as a pastor for so many years!
 
Paul, in our next passage, is doing an inspection of the foundation of the Corinthian church (people not a building) and has found her to be untrustworthy, unsound, not a base to build upon. He even reported the people to be “infantile” as their flimsy foundation seemed to be people not on Jesus Christ, the only foundation that strong, growing lives can be built upon that lasts. They were selfish, demanding their own way and stunted in their growth because of the lack of foundation….like the hotel that had to be torn down and started over. Mm.
 
Have we inspected or evaluated our church lately, checking for cracks or movement from the original foundation? Let’s read Paul’s checklist in his inspection and hold a mirror up to ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ. If all is good, celebrate and keep growing loving, fruitful lives because of Jesus, our strong foundation. If there are items God needs to do in us, then let Him. If we need to tear down what is not of God and begin again, we will be better for doing just that! Build on the firm, lasting strong and powerful foundation of Jesus Christ, our Lord! Amen! Yes!
 
1 Corinthians 3 enduring foundation1 Corinthians 3, The Message
 
1-4 But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way? When one of you says, “I’m on Paul’s side,” and another says, “I’m for Apollos,” aren’t you being totally infantile?
 
5-9 Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.
 
9-15 Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.
 
1 Corinthians 3 spirit God's temple16-17 You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God’s temple, you can be sure of that. God’s temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.
 
18-20 Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It’s written in Scripture,
 
He exposes the chicanery of the chic.
The Master sees through the smoke screens
of the know-it-alls.
 
21-23 I don’t want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.
 
In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen.
 
And an old hymn, anonymously written in 1787 comes to mind…
 
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
 
“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
 
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
 
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
 
“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HIS BEST IN US!

Posted on February 28, 2018 by randscallawayffm
1 Corinthians – Belief and Behavior
 
The whole world is mournfully celebrating the passing of Billy Graham from life here to life with Jesus. We know where he went because we knew how close to God he was by the fruits of his life. Many quotes have been popping up in our social media. We just can’t get enough because of the respect we all had for this man. Even those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus respect Billy Graham.
 
I remember as a child spending nights and days on my grandparents farm when everything stopped, all work ceased, to sit in front of the black and white TV to watch Billy Graham speak to thousands in his crusades. Because of my grandparents and parents, I developed a high respect for him, too.
 
Years would pass. As school teachers we felt the call of God later in life to go into full time ministry but knew little about the responsibility that scared us to death. As poor as we were at that time, we were given a full scholarship to attend a Billy Graham School of Evangelism for a week. We jumped at the opportunity! This was life changing and so timely in our walk with God.
 
We arrived in North Carolina and were instantly loved, accepted and encouraged like no others had done before because they knew what we were going through and had been through it themselves. We were taught that God has all the answers. Stay focused and close to Him. Commune with Him daily, not just to study for the next sermon but for the spiritual health of our very souls. HE will bring out HIS best in you. Let God.
 
We were taught by humble people who were still in the trenches preaching Jesus, plain and simple, who He is and then what He did–Jesus crucified, just as Paul is telling the Corinthians in our next passage. In a Spirit of love, we were also taught how to stay true to what we have been given to do. Integrity is key. On the last evening at this event, Billy Graham came to encourage us as well. As an evangelist who comes in for a period of time and leaves, he knew we had the harder work of helping people grow in Christ each week without ceasing. He prayed for us. I will never forget his encouragement and the help from others. We laughed, cried and felt like we knew each other well by the end of the week.
 
As I, too, mourn and celebrate the passing of one of the most trusted men of God in our world. I spent time listening again to some of his sermons through the decades that was put together by the Billy Graham organization. His sermons were simple and clear. He knew his audience from people who have sat in church all their lives to those who have never heard. But more importantly, he knew Jesus with a direct relationship with God. His eyes reflected his Father’s eyes as he spoke the words of the Father.
 
As Paul writes about himself as a preacher, “…nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else”, I am reminded of Billy Graham, his life, his calling and his relationship to our Creator. He knew his power came from God.
 
Read the next passage where Paul is reminding the Corinthian church where our true power comes from. And be encouraged…
 
1 Corinthians 2 God has1 Corinthians 2, The Message
 
1-2 You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
 
3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
 
6-10 We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That’s why we have this Scripture text:
 
No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.
 
But you’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.
 
10-13 The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.
 
14-16 The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit.
 
1 Corinthians 2 powerWhat do we learn?
–Preach Jesus–Crucified for our sin.
–Follow Jesus–Example for life to the full.
–Love God. Love others like God loves us.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for grandparents and parents who set the example for me by their lives lived well because of their relationships with You. Thank you for the life of Billy Graham whom you have received into the place prepared for him by you! Thank you for other mentors in our lives who have nurtured us. Help us help others like you provided for us. May we always preach You–Crucified for our sin, dear Jesus. Transform me. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

YOU MUST GET ALONG

Posted on February 27, 2018 by randscallawayffm
1 Corinthians – Belief and Behavior
 
How many times as parents have we said to our kids, “You must get along with each other. Take turns. Figure out a way to play nicely. Stop hurting each other. We all live in the same house and will for a long time, so let’s figure out a way to get along with each other!” I know I have preached this message in various forms all of my parenting (and teaching) life!
 
Then I think, what example did we set? What legacy are we leaving behind for them? When do they start to “get it” and live it for themselves and begin to teach their children? Well, I have lived long enough to see it happen! I watch our kids teach their kids in much the same way. I have even heard the exact words come from their lips, “You must get along with each other!”
 
Churches need help from time to time with the same message. Paul writes lovingly but with careful sternness to the “church gone wild” at Corinth. Society it seems as had more affect on the church than the church on society. Mm. Is that happening today? According to George Barna, in his survey of the American church, the answer is a resounding yes! So let’s study this letter of loving care and correction and see if there is some work that needs to be done by us as God’s church.
 
1 Corinthians 1, The Message
The Cross: The Irony of God’s Wisdom
 
1 Corinthians division10 I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.
 
11-12 I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you’re fighting among yourselves! I’ll tell you exactly what I was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.”
 
13-16 I ask you, “Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul’s name?” I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I’m sure glad I wasn’t. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas’s family, but as far as I can recall, that’s it.)
 
17 God didn’t send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn’t send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.
 
18-21 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written,
 
I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots.
 
So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
 
22-25 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.”
 
Follow Jesus26-31 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”
 
I Corinthians 1 what you doWhat do we learn in lesson one of Paul’s letter?
–PREACH JESUS! “Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in One.”
–God does not send anyone (pastor, church leader, elder, deacon, worship leader, small group leader, children’s director, janitor, parking attendant and church secretary) out to get a following for themselves. Preach Jesus and the Message of what He has done. Help others find and follow HIM. Jesus Christ is the One and Only Savior and Lord.
–Preach the way of salvation. Preach Jesus!
–Don’t pick sides. Choose only Jesus!
–EVERYTHING we have, right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. Behave like we say we believe!
–He is God and we are not.
–Listen the the trumpet of Jesus! Blow the trumpet of Jesus!
–Get along with each other! Love each other well…in the most excellent way.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word still teaches us how to believe and behave today! Help us to love you more and more with our behavior. Help us to see your way and follow it. Transform me. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
And I’m singing…
 
I listen to the Trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can
 
(Verse 1:)
One sweet sound makes
A whole world of difference
When the world seems indifferent to you
His Melody of love calls you to be great
When marking time was all you thought you could do
So if you’ve been playing all your days by ear
Never knowing what your song was to be
Then pull up a chair, let down your hair
And take a few lessons from me
 
[Chorus:]
 
(Verse 2:)
A spiritual fanfare has a sound all it’s own
At the birth of a lasting song
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus was born
And still the celebration goes on
If you feel the need to get your life in tune
‘Cause you’re tired of the derdge every day
Then turn yourself around,
Put your feet on the ground
And just hear what I have to say
 
(Written by Russ Taff)
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GOD WON’T GIVE UP ON US (So, let’s not give up on each other!)

Posted on February 26, 2018 by randscallawayffm
1 Corinthians – Believe and Behavior
 
When people become Christians, they don’t at the same moment become nice. I know, shocker. But we who are more mature in the faith somehow act as if they should. Conversion to Christ and his ways doesn’t automatically furnish a person with impeccable manners and suitable morals.
 
The people of Corinth (kind of like a Las Vegas in the moral department) had a reputation in the ancient world as an unruly, hard-drinking, sexually promiscuous bunch of people. When Paul arrived with the Message and many of them became believers in Jesus, they brought their reputations with them right into the church.
 
Paul spent a year and a half with them as their pastor, going over the Message of the “good news” in detail, showing them how to live out this new life of salvation and holiness as a community of believers. Then he went on his way to other towns and churches.
 
Sometime later Paul received a report from one of the Corinthian families that in his absence things had more or less fallen apart. He also received a letter from Corinth asking for help. Factions had developed, morals were in disrepair, worship had degenerated into a selfish grabbing for the supernatural. It was the kind of thing that might have been expected from Corinthians!
 
With this in mind, we can begin to read this letter with more understanding of WHY Paul said what he did to this particular group of people. Many teachers and preachers have lifted much from these letters and used the words out of context to form new religions that veer greatly from the intent of the message.
 
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a classic of pastoral response: affectionate, firm, clear, and unswerving in the conviction that God among them, revealed in Jesus and present in his Holy Spirit, continued to be that central issue in their lives, regardless of how much of a mess they had made of things.
 
Paul doesn’t disown them as brother and sister Christians, doesn’t throw them out because of their bad behavior, and doesn’t fly into a tirade over their irresponsible ways. He takes it all more or less in stride, but also takes them by the hand and goes over all the old ground again, directing them in how to work all the glorious details of God’s saving love in their love for one another.
 
If Paul was to hear and see all that is going on in God’s church today…what would God direct him to write to us? Mm, just a thought.
 
We open with Paul’s words of love and affirmation…
 
I Corinthians thank God for youI Corinthians 1, The Message
 
1-2 I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God’s plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. I send this letter to you in God’s church at Corinth, believers cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they live. He’s their Master as well as ours!
 
3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
 
4-6 Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
 
7-9 Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
 
THINK ABOUT IT…
–In our messes, God never gives up on us!
–There is always room for improvement and growth on this journey of our belief matching our behavior.
–Love God. Love others.
–Live gratefully and expectantly.
–God himself is right alongside us to keep us steady and on track!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We, too are messed up. We repent of self focus. My eyes are focused back to You. Set us apart and make us holy. Help us to live according to your ways. We believe, now help us to behave like we say believe. Thank you for directing Paul to write words that proclaim truth wrapped in Your Holy Spirit of care and extreme love. May these words of love and correction help all of us, as Your church, on our journey today and always.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Corinthians, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, Hope, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GENEROUS HOSPITALITY WISDOM IN THE WORK

Posted on February 25, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
We love having family and dear friends visit us. As they get ready to leave, however, after an extended visit, it takes awhile to say those last good byes. At least it does in our household. We end all conversations with, “Be careful!” “We love you!” Then we watch and wave our arms on the drive until they are out of sight.
 
I picture these good byes as I read Paul’s salutation to his friends in Rome. He thanks them for generous hospitality. He gives names of people with whom he worked side by side for the glory of God and for the sake of building His Kingdom. Then in his last words he gives the “be careful” warning followed by more generous affirmations. Read and listen and be blessed by his example.
 
Romans 16 glory to GodRomans 16, The Message
1-2 Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for. I heartily endorse both her and her work. She’s a key representative of the church at Cenchrea. Help her out in whatever she asks. She deserves anything you can do for her. She’s helped many a person, including me.
 
3-5 Say hello to Priscilla and Aquila, who have worked hand in hand with me in serving Jesus. They once put their lives on the line for me. And I’m not the only one grateful to them. All the non-Jewish gatherings of believers also owe them plenty, to say nothing of the church that meets in their house.
 
Hello to my dear friend Epenetus. He was the very first follower of Jesus in the province of Asia.
 
6 Hello to Mary. What a worker she has turned out to be!
 
7 Hello to my cousins Andronicus and Junias. We once shared a jail cell. They were believers in Christ before I was. Both of them are outstanding leaders.
 
8 Hello to Ampliatus, my good friend in the family of God.
 
9 Hello to Urbanus, our companion in Christ’s work, and my good friend Stachys.
 
10 Hello to Apelles, a tried-and-true veteran in following Christ.
 
Hello to the family of Aristobulus.
 
11 Hello to my cousin Herodion.
 
Hello to those who belong to the Lord from the family of Narcissus.
 
12 Hello to Tryphena and Tryphosa—such diligent women in serving the Master.
 
Hello to Persis, a dear friend and hard worker in Christ.
 
13 Hello to Rufus—a good choice by the Master!—and his mother. She has also been a dear mother to me.
 
14 Hello to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and also to all of their families.
 
15 Hello to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas—and all the followers of Jesus who live with them.
 
16 Holy embraces all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings!
 
17-18 One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.
 
19-20 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters—I couldn’t be more proud of you!—I want you also to be smart, making sure every “good” thing is the real thing. Don’t be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!
 
21 And here are some more greetings from our end. Timothy, my partner in this work, Lucius, and my cousins Jason and Sosipater all said to tell you hello.
 
22 I, Tertius, who wrote this letter at Paul’s dictation, send you my personal greetings.
 
23 Gaius, who is host here to both me and the whole church, wants to be remembered to you.
 
Erastus, the city treasurer, and our good friend Quartus send their greetings.
 
25-26 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter.
 
27 All our praise is focused through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes!
 
May ALL our praise, work, rest, coming and going be focused through Jesus on this incomparable wise GOD this Lord’s Day! Amen! Yes!
 
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PIONEER OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Posted on February 24, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
As we go through this life, we affect all those around us in some way. Relationships, good or bad, are made along the journey. You would have to live solely in a cave or a box and never come out to avoid relationships with others. Most of us do not live in seclusion. Those who do, we worry about.
 
Jesus came to earth not only to save us, but to show us how to relate to each other from a place of selfless love, extending mercy and telling us of the grace of God. He reminded us to love God then love others like God loves us.
 
Paul, saved by grace on the road to persecuting those who were trying to love God and others, began a new life of building relationships rather than tearing them apart. Because of Jesus, Paul now lives to tell how to turn bad relationships to good, healthy, growing, loving relationships. These are relationships that last. It begins with a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
As Paul ends his letter to the Romans, we see he was a pioneer of relationships on his journey to tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus. Because of realizing how much Christ loves him, he loves others readily, without condition. Paul’s desire is that all believers realize the love of God and love others in the same way. He mentions many people in his letters whom he has met and loved and longs to visit with again.
 
“I’ll be on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being refreshed by your company, God’s peace be with all of you. Oh, yes!” WHO do we look forward to seeing on our journeys here on earth? WHO refreshes our hearts by their presence? I am thinking of many people who have mentored me, renewed my spirit, gave me words of hope at just the right time, encouraged me in ministry tasks that were challenging, those who called or wrote words of affirmation. Those are the people I would love to sit down over a meal and talk with again.
 
Read of Paul’s hope and his affirmation of others. Think of people who give you hope, affirm them and thank God for them in prayer. Be grateful for the positive, loving relationships God has given us in this practice of “loving others”. Be extremely grateful for the growing, relentless relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! Great relationships begin with a growing relationship with Christ.
 
Romans 15 believe and trustRomans 15, The Message
14-16 Personally, I’ve been completely satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed, quite capable of guiding and advising one another. So, my dear friends, don’t take my rather bold and blunt language as criticism. It’s not criticism. I’m simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of the non-Jewish outsiders so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God’s Holy Spirit.
 
17-21 Looking back over what has been accomplished and what I have observed, I must say I am most pleased—in the context of Jesus, I’d even say proud, but only in that context. I have no interest in giving you a chatty account of my adventures, only the wondrously powerful and transformingly present words and deeds of Christ in me that triggered a believing response among the outsiders. In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Jerusalem far into northwestern Greece. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been,
 
Those who were never told of him—
they’ll see him!
Those who’ve never heard of him—
they’ll get the message!
 
22-24 And that’s why it has taken me so long to finally get around to coming to you. But now that there is no more pioneering work to be done in these parts, and since I have looked forward to seeing you for many years, I’m planning my visit. I’m headed for Spain, and expect to stop off on the way to enjoy a good visit with you, and eventually have you send me off with God’s blessing.
 
25-29 First, though, I’m going to Jerusalem to deliver a relief offering to the followers of Jesus there. The Greeks—all the way from the Macedonians in the north to the Achaians in the south—decided they wanted to take up a collection for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were happy to do this, but it was also their duty. Seeing that they got in on all the spiritual gifts that flowed out of the Jerusalem community so generously, it is only right that they do what they can to relieve their poverty. As soon as I have done this—personally handed over this “fruit basket”—I’m off to Spain, with a stopover with you in Rome. My hope is that my visit with you is going to be one of Christ’s more extravagant blessings.
 
30-33 I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with and for me—to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the Spirit—that I will be delivered from the lions’ den of unbelievers in Judea. Pray also that my relief offering to the Jerusalem believers will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given. Then, God willing, I’ll be on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being refreshed by your company. God’s peace be with all of you. Oh, yes!
 
What do we learn?
–Be pioneers of great, loving, sincere relationships with others. The world is longing for it.
–Love God. Love Others. Jesus commanded it.
–AFFIRM others. You cannot affirm each other too much. It is not possible.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
As Paul closes his letter to his friends we see and feel the love he has for people between the lines. May Your love permeate our very being. May Your Holy Spirit gush through us, washing away all that is bad. Lead us to great relationships with others. Let it begin with a smile on our faces put there by your love and by our gratitude for your love. Help us to take our minds off ourselves and see the good in others and affirm them for it. Thank you for being with us. Transform me. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

JESUS DID IT, NOW WE DO IT!

Posted on February 23, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
Romans 15 choirChoir practice is not your normal practice of a few songs to get ready to sing the next Sunday. I want to testify to what happens at the Pointe where we attend. It is more like choir worship. It is just another time to share our lives and hearts who seek God’s approval, who give back a small portion of what He has given to us, to laugh with each other and cry with each other as we do life. Last night was no exception.
 
We sing to God and He reveals His heart to us in return. What breaks His heart breaks ours. No matter what happened that day to each individual, God’s glory begins glows on each face as we sing “a new song to the Lord”. To cap a busy day with corporate worship with this group is indescribable joy.
 
In the middle of it all, we stopped to pray for broken hearts and lives and then rejoiced again in song to the Lord because we truly believe that God will prevail in every situation and circumstance. The gates of heaven are open for all who believe, trust and then obey His will.
 
Then this morning, I read our next passage, the beginning of Romans 15 and I worship God, again. I love how God works in the details of our lives. He reminds us that that’s exactly what Jesus did. “He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out.” We are to do what HE did with God helping us.
 
“Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!”
 
Read and be blessed…
 
Romans 15 for His gloryRomans 15, The Message
 
1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
 
3-6 That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
 
7-13 So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:
 
Romans 15 love each otherThen I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;
I’ll sing to your name!
 
And this one:
 
Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!
 
And again:
 
People of all nations, celebrate God!
All colors and races, give hearty praise!
 
And Isaiah’s word:
 
There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse,
breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,
Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!
 
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
 
What do we learn?
–Ask “How can I help?” along with our prayers for troubled lives.
–“Strength is for service, not status.” Wow. Read, let it sink in.
–Welcome one another to God’s glory!
–Jesus did it, not we do it!
–“God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next.”
 
Do we want what God wants? Evaluation time.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
I repent of avoidance of trouble in others’ lives. Lead and guide me with Your strength and power to ask “how can I help?” to others. May we be blessings to others who believe and to those who have yet to believe in your saving grace.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
And I’m singing…
 
“That’s What Love Is”….yes, it’s a new song!
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THANK GOD FOR BROCCOLI Growing great relationships!

Posted on February 22, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
Some members of our family were in continuous disagreement about almost everything…but they loved and accepted each other. I remember listening in (you couldn’t help it, we were a loud family) as a child at our after church gatherings and wondering if they even liked each other at times. I vowed not to be so boisterous in disagreeing because of these family debates over religion, politics, foods to eat, not to eat or drink, etc. Even today, I shy away from disagreeable people and fall silent and slip away to avoid the chatter. This cause for looking back and wondering why I am like I am is prompted by our next passage in Paul’s advice to the Romans.
 
The more I read it the more it enriches my soul, comforts and convicts me and helps me to have a strong desire to be better at growing strong relationships with others…no matter how they think or why they do the things they do. “Remember, (writes Paul), they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.”
 
The best way to cultivate the soil of a relationship is to ACCEPT (every human is created with this need to belong and be accepted), love, be kind and gentle. “God has invited EVERYONE to His table”.
 
Read and pull out the “standards” of growing relationships with others God has placed in our lives. You will be blessed if you do. It is long but full of golden nuggets of truth. Highlight them as I did. Print them out and post them if necessary. We need this today!
 
Romans 14 buildRomans 14, The Message
Cultivating Good Relationships
14 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
 
2-4 For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
 
5 Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
 
6-9 What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
 
10-12 So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:
 
“As I live and breathe,” God says,
“every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God.”
 
So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.
 
13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.
 
15-16 If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!
 
17-18 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
 
19-21 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.
 
22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
 

Highlights…

–Welcome all with open arms!
–Welcome believers you don’t agree with or see things they way you do.
–We all have our own history that influences today’s actions.
–Treat all gently.
–Don’t roll our eyes over what others choose to eat.
–Bad manners at the table? Let God take care of his children.
–God doesn’t need our help. Let me repeat. God doesn’t need our help.
–Everything must be done for God, for His sake, not our own.
–Do all, eat all, to the glory of God…thank God for broccoli and those who eat it!
–Criticism of our brothers and sisters only make us look foolish.
–In the end, “Every knee will bow before me, says God and every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God.” HE is GOD and we are NOT.
–We have our hands full taking care of growing in our own relationship with God. “I’m convinced–Jesus convinced me–that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.” THINK about that for a while!
–While we are busy disagreeing with each other, we need to remember that THESE and us, are people for whom Christ died!
Bottom line.
–Our task: Be single minded, focused with eyes on Christ, as we serve Him to His glory, honor and praise. “Please God, proving your worth to the people around you.
–SO, “Let’s agree to use ALL our energy in getting along with each other.”
–Encourage each other. Don’t suck the life out of them with words that kill or maim.
–Be sensitive and courteous to all.
–CULTIVATE your own relationship with God…but don’t impose it on others. They don’t need our opinion…only Jesus!
–We are doing it right when our belief matches our behavior.
–Whew!…yes, cultivating, planting, growing is hard, tedious, sweaty work but the fruit that is gained is a glorious relationship with the Creator of all of us, God the Father and loving, growing relationships with each other!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to do all that your word has given us to munch on today. I need Your help. We all need Your help. Transform me. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GOOD MORNING!

Posted on February 21, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
I am a morning person. The rest of my family is not. God made me this way. And that’s okay. I like being the first one out of bed, getting a cup of coffee and a cup of Cheerios and retreating to our office where I can speak first to God, our Father. I can then hear HIS voice first in the quiet of the first few minutes of a new day. What my family never understood is the happiness and joy that follows with the exuberance to get them up and out of bed, too! So, I would sing them out of bed. I loved doing it. They did not.
 
I remember having a guest, one of their friends, I believe his name was Lance Finley, spend the night in our home. I treat all overnight guests like family, so I sang the “morning song” to him, too. In fact, I began in his room. I wanted him to feel at home. My oldest daughter leaped from her bed, (which was a rare sight to see), ran from her bedroom and nearly tackled me to the ground with a mortified voice, “It’s bad enough you sing to us, you cannot sing to a GUEST!” To which I responded, with my loudest singing voice,
 
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It’s time to rise and shine
Good morning, good morning, good morning
I hope you’re feeling fine
 
The sun is just above the hill
Another day for us to fill
With all the things we love to do
Oh can’t you hear, it’s calling you
Doodle-y do, doodle-y do, doodle-y do
 
Good morning, good morning, good morning
Its time to rise and shine
Good morning, good morning, good morning
I hope you’re feeling fine
 
Good morning, get up, get out of bed
You gotta get up you sleepy head
The day is dawning just for you
And all your dreams are coming true
Doodle-y do, doodle-y do, doodle-y do
 
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It’s time to rise and shine!
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It’s time to rise and shine!
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It’s time to rise and shine!
(Written by Barry McGuire)
 
They WHOLE household was up and moving before the end of the song. SEE, it works. Yes, I was THAT mom. This was all done from a loving, caring heart.
 
As I read our final passage of chapter 13 today, I am reminded of this episode in our family life when our kids were teenagers. This song defused some of those ugly snarls you get when waking a teen from a sound sleep. (Smiling)
 
Paul is almost singing the same song as he writes, “The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!” “Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” As a morning person, I LOVE it!
 
The other point Paul makes is to pay what you owe (so you will be free to move when God says move) and whatever you do in life…love. Love God. Love others. You can’t go wrong when you love others like God loves us.
 
Romans 13 JesusRomans 13, The Message (Part 2 of 2)
 
8-10 Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
 
11-14 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
 
What do we learn?
–Get up. Dress ourselves in Christ. (Think more like Christ, do more like Christ!)
–Love.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for great memories that make us smile even today, years later. Thank you for being with us, teaching us, forgiving us…all because you love us. I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind and soul. Transform me. Transform the world with Your Love.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
And I’m still singing…
 
Step into the sunshine,
Get out of the shade
This is the one time that you’ve got it made,
And you can feel yourself smilin’
Way down to your shoes
Step into the sunshine, find the great good news.
 
Lord have mercy on the long, lost child,
Who wants to come home, but the world’s gone wild (world’s gone wild).
Lookin’ all around for a way to begin,
“Open up the windows, let the light pour in (light pour in)!”
I said, “open up the windows let the light pour in.”
 
Children, step into the sunshine,
Get out of the shade
This is the one time that you’ve got it made.
And you can feel yourself smilin’ way down to your shoes
Step into the sunshine, find the great good news!
(Written by Evie Karlsson)
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BE A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN

Posted on February 20, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Romans – “Therefore”
 
There is no greater witness a Christ-like person can show to the world with how he/she responds to governmental authorities. How should we behave? Paul tells us plainly. Be responsible…God expects it. God will hold us responsible for our thinking and subsequent actions.
 
That’s why when you get upset at political Facebook posts and you want to respond back with the same venom, but your gut tells you not to, don’t. Obey the urge to love instead. Be the responsible citizen. Yes, you have the freedom to say what you please in this country, but responding in kind, with hate, to make your point, only starts a fire storm that gets nasty and hurts brothers and sisters you are trying to guide to God. Be responsible, says Paul to the Romans.
 
Romans 13 authority
Paul was writing to believers at the very heart of the Roman Empire. As yet, the great persecutions had not started but were on the way. Christianity was still considered a Jewish sect, and the Jewish religion was approved by Rome. But the day would come when it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for a Christian to be loyal to the emperor. He could not drop incense on the altar and affirm, “Caesar is god!”
 
In our own day, we have people who teach riot and rebellion in the name of Christ! They would have us believe that the Christian thing to do is to disobey the law, rebel against the authorities, and permit every person to do that which is right in his own eyes. Paul refuted this position in this chapter by explaining four reasons why the Christian must be in subjection to the laws of the state.
 
1. It is God who has established the governments of the world (see Acts 17:24-28). Even though we cannot always respect the person in office, we must respect the office, for government was ordained by God.
 
On more than one occasion in his ministry, Paul used the Roman law to protect his life and to extend his work. The centurions mentioned in the book of Acts appear to be men of character and high ideals. Even if government officials are not believers, they are still the “ministers of God” because He established the authority of the state.
 
2. For conscience’s sake (vv. 5-7). We move a bit higher in our motivation now. Any citizen can obey the law because of fear of punishment, but a Christian ought to obey because of conscience. Of course, if the government interferes with conscience, then the Christian must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). But when the law is right, the Christian must obey it if he is to maintain a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 4:2; Acts 24:16).
 
Romans 13:7 commands us to pay what we owe: taxes, revenue, respect, honor. If we do not pay our taxes, we show disrespect to the law, the officials, and the Lord. And this cannot but affect the conscience of the believer. We may not agree with all that is done with the money we pay in taxes, but we dare not violate our conscience by refusing to pay.
 
3. For love’s sake (vv. 8-10). Paul enlarged the circle of responsibility by including other people besides government officials. “Love one another” is the basic principle of the Christian life. It is the “new commandment” that Christ gave to us (John 13:34). When we practice love, there is no need for any other laws, because love covers it all. If we love others, we will not sin against them. This explained why the Ten Commandments were not referred to often in the New Testament. In fact, the Sabbath commandment is not quoted at all in any of the Epistles. As believers, we do not live under the law; we live under grace. Our motive for obeying God and helping others is the love of Christ in our hearts.
 
4. For Jesus’ sake (vv. 11-14). We have come a long way in our reasons for obeying the law: from fear to conscience to love to our devotion to Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on the imminent return of Christ. As His servants, we want to be found faithful when He returns. The completion of our salvation is near! The light is dawning! Therefore, be ready!
 
In other words, a Christian citizen ought to be the best citizen. Christians may not always agree on politics or parties, but they can all agree on their attitude toward human government.
 

Romans 13, The Message (Part One of two)

To Be a Responsible Citizen

 1-3 Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

3-5 Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.

6-7 That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.

BE A GOOD CITIZEN! BE RESPONSIBLE!
Many are watching….God will hold us accountable.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your word that reminds us to be good citizens for all the right reasons. If our hearts are pure then our actions will show it. We all have a heart condition that is made holy by You alone. You are God and we are not. You are ultimately and forever in charge. We are not. Thank you for helping us to understand today. Help us to live as good, responsible citizens.
Transform me. Transform the world.
 
I pray your blessings of wisdom, insight and understanding be on all leaders local, state and federal. I pray your wisdom falls on Your church and her leaders. May Your glory be seen in all and through all.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Romans, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment