IN ON THE ACTION!

Posted on December 4, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS, The Actions of God

We leave the quartet of gospels to dive into the acts of God after Jesus ascended back heaven. He left his believers with a command to go and teach the world, beginning in your own home time, then to all the parts of the world. Without missing a beat, that is exactly what they did. Luke records the Acts of God as directed by God’s Spirit. Why?

Because the story of Jesus is so impressive–God among us! God speaking a language we can understand! God acting in ways that heal and help and save us!–there is a danger that we will be impressed, but only be impressed, (especially this time of year when Christmas lights and music impress us greatly, even bringing tears to our eyes.) Impressions are not lasting. We are mere spectators.

As the spectacular dimensions of this story slowly (or suddenly) dawn upon us, we could easily become enthusiastic spectators, and then let it go at that–becoming admirers of Jesus, generous with our oh’s and ah’s, and in our better moments inspired to imitate him.

It is Luke’s task to prevent that, to prevent us from becoming mere spectators to Jesus, fans of the Message. Of the original quartet of writers on Jesus, Luke alone continues to tell the story as the apostles and disciples live it into the next generation. The remarkable thing is that it continues to be essentially the same story. Luke continues his narration with hardly a break, a pause perhaps to dip his pen in the inkwell, writing in the same style, using the same vocabulary.

The story of Jesus doesn’t end with Jesus. It continues in the lives of those who believe in him. The supernatural does not stop with Jesus. Luke makes it clear that these Christians he wrote about were no more spectators of Jesus than Jesus was a spectator of God–they are IN on the action of God, God acting in them, God living in them. Which also means, of course, in us!

Jesus taught/trained/schooled his disciples about God, Who He is, How He works and is always at work. He even told them that they would do even greater acts than He would do! God’s Word became flesh to show us God in Person.

In the coming days ahead, let us dive into the book of Acts with a mind desiring to grow and think like the first generation disciples on mission, IN on the Acts of God!

Web

ACTS 1, The Message

To the Ends of the World
1-5 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”

6 When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

AND HE’S COMING BACK!…

9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”

WHY DO YOU JUST STAND HERE LOOKING UP AT AN EMPTY SKY?

Let’s get to work, watching for God, listening for His invitation to join Him in His work, then get IN on the action!

Always In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe!

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LET’S GO FISHING!

Posted on December 3, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

When we are sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, mourning the loss of someone, or in transition between jobs and ministry, as humans we have a tendency to go back to what we knew well and do that for a while until the next door opens. I have done it a few times and I bet you have, too. Going back, to what we knew how to do and be, soothes our troubled minds, restores our confidence and peace and allows us to not sit in a stagnate pool of self pity.

Peter knew fishing. When Jesus called to him to follow him, Peter was fishing. To catch fish was his livelihood. It fed his family. His enthusiasm to get up and go fishing was contagious. Some of the other disciples who were also missing Jesus and missing his daily companionship decided to jump up and follow Peter when he declared, “I’m going fishing!”

I don’t think it mattered if they caught anything, but they had to DO something. They fished all night. They caught nothing. When the sun rose in the morning sky, they see a man waving to them from the beach. He yells a typical question to fishermen, “Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

Then Jesus reminds them of when they were first called to follow him in ministry by asking them to cast the net off the right side of the boat and “see what happens”. Flashback! They caught so many fish they needed help to pull it in. John says to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

Peter (in Peter fashion) immediately jumps into the sea and swims to Jesus, leaving the fish behind. Once again. To see Jesus!

Jesus serves a breakfast of fish and bread to his disciples, also reminiscent of their past ministry together when they blessed a few fish and loaves of bread and fed thousands. Can you hear the conversation and laughter. “Remember when…” they say.
Jesus, only Jesus, can come to us in the “stuck in neutral” times in our lives and remind us of the how He taught and invited us to His work in the past. Jesus has a way, still today, of “serving us a breakfast” of encouragement just when we need it most. He has for me. I pray He will for you…just when you need it most. Maybe it is even today.

Use the good thoughts of how God helped us in the past to move us forward with encouragement for the challenge of future ministry. After breakfast and just being with Jesus, He then challenges Peter with what lies ahead for him. Read and be blessed and encouraged.

Jesus loves us all very deeply. He loves us where we are right now. He loves us enough to always move us forward. This relationship between Jesus and you (and me) is very personal. He singles us out, like Peter, and speaks to individual hearts. Listen….to Him. Be restored (like Peter), blessed and encouraged. Let’s go fishing!

John 21 shore boats fire

John 21, The Message
Fishing
21 1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”

3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.

5 Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

They answered, “No.”

6 He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”

They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.

7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.

12 Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Do You Love Me?
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”

17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”

20-21 Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”

22-23 Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”

24 This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate.

25 There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.

On a personal note…
This passage of that tells us of the relationships between Jesus and his followers is very personal to me. I can recall quite a few times when Jesus has “served breakfast” to me to encourage me to look back only long enough to see how God works so I could get up and “go fishing” once more.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Posted on December 2, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

There is no greater pain or uncontrolled panic than when you lose a kid in the mall. We were shopping with our oldest (of now eight) grand-kids, long ago. But I remember it as if were yesterday! Joey was just a toddler. He was with us and then in seconds he was not in eyesight. Panic was our first thought, then prayer. We said his name over and over, looking everywhere. What seemed like an eternity but only seconds, Joey popped his head out from a clothes rack and said, “Are you looking for me, Grandma?” “I was here all the time” with giggles leading to laughter. I was not laughing. Tears of joy and relief came to my eyes.

“Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”, says Jesus to Mary who is distraught for fear the body of her Lord has been taken. She and the disciples are still reeling in pain from Jesus death. They have forgotten what He said about rising from death three days later. “No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” Peter and John left the empty tomb to go tell the others that the body was missing.

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. Can we imagine her panic and anguish? Angels came to reassure her and calm her. But she turned away from them to see Jesus standing there. She did not recognize him through her tears so He spoke to her, “Mary” with a Voice she recognized because she was one of his sheep who hears only the Voice of the Shepherd. She realizes Jesus has been here all the time.

Jesus gives her the command to “Go tell”. And she does.

Who are you looking for this Christmas season? Are you weeping over what you have lost or rejoicing because Jesus, whom you search, has been there all along. Are you looking for joy? Jesus restores our joy when we turn around and recognize Him, hear His Voice of peace and calm to us with His assurance that He is there all the time. Anguish weeping is replaced with joyful, abundant living knowing that He was there all the along.

Who are you looking for? 
Mary experienced the resurrection of her Lord and Savior. Are we only experiencing the birth, the coming of our Lord? That’s only the beginning of belief. Believe and experience the resurrection of our Savior! It is the baseline of our belief! Don’t miss seeing Him for Who His was, is and is to come!

John 20, The Message
Resurrection!

John 20, Mary sees Jesus

1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”

3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”

13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.

15 Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”

She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”

16 Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”

17 Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.

Who are we looking for?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for opening the eyes of our Spirit as we turn to look into Your face of glory. Continue to teach and assure us. Continue to transform us. You ARE there all the time. I believe. Thank you for rising to life, defeating death, once and for all. Thank you for revealing Yourself to us still in the form of Your Holy Spirit. You are Who we are looking for. There is no one like You, Lord!
In Jesus Name, Amen

And we sing…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the Light of His Glory and Grace!

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WHAT IS TRUTH?

Posted on December 1, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

As believers, we are busy this time of year setting up our manger scenes depicting the birth of Christ. It is important to us to show the world that Truth was born as a baby to a couple of humans, Mary and Joseph, dedicated to doing God’s will in His way, in His time.

As we set up the array of bright decorations of red and green, we are also reminded of God’s mission for this little child, His Son, who became the King of kings. Jesus, the Messiah, the One the Jews had been waiting for, grew to be a man on a mission from God, His Father. He came to this earth as the Person called Truth. He is Truth. Whether we believe or not. Truth remains. Truth never changes. Jesus is Truth. Truth set us free.

Truth is on trial in our next passage of John. “What is Truth?” is not the right question asked by Pilate. The better question should be WHO is Truth? Read and see what you think…

John 18-19, The Message
(This passage is long, but I feel led to tell the whole story of Pilate’s search for Truth who is standing right in front of him.)

The King of the Jews
28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”

30 They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”

31-32 Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”

The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)

33 Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

35 Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

36 “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

37 Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

38-39 Pilate said, “What is truth?”

Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.

John 19
1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.

Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”

6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”

7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”

Jesus gave no answer.

10 Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”

11 Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”

12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”

13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”

15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”

The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”

16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

JESUS THE NAZARENE
THE KING OF THE JEWS

20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

22 Pilate said, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”

23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)

24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”

29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”

john 18 truth

Points to ponder…
–Truth was standing right in front of Pilate who was desperately searching for truth to end the “caught in the middle” predicament in which the Jewish leaders put him.
–He declared Truth innocent. But the Jewish leaders shouted “Crucify Him”. They tried to kill Truth so they wouldn’t be bothered by Truth again.
–Jesus answers Pilot, “I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
–As we set up our manger scenes and ooh and ah over the baby born in a cave, think also of Truth, Who as a man suffered by being tortured, mocked, and betrayed. Think of Truth who bled and died on a cruel cross for all sin. Truth redeemed us. Truth set us free!
–John “saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.”

One more thought…

Pilate made a sign of declaration and put it over the head of Jesus with words written in three languages so all would understand:

“Jesus the Nazarene
The King of the Jews”

The Jews vehemently opposed this sign. But Pilate refused to change it. Maybe Pilate was almost persuaded by Truth. Mm.

Last thought…what do WE do about knowing Truth?

–Go tell the Truth to a world who, like Pilate, is desperately asking, seeking and searching for someone to be authentic, who lives with Truth in them. This is a great time of year to begin a conversation about the Gift of Truth to all!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you. These words are so small and nearly enough to tell you how grateful and humbled we are before you. You are Truth. You always have been and always will be. Thank you for reminding us of why you came. Thank you for giving us the Truth who set us free. Give us words that people will understand. Prepare their hearts to receive Truth.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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LOVE KEPT HIM CLOSE

Posted on November 30, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

The best intentions sometimes do not solve the problem. We say things like, “his heart was in the right place.” Sometimes what we do makes things worse. Your best efforts to help sometimes hurt someone else. You didn’t think or plan for it to happen that way. It just did. You defend someone you love but hurt someone else in the process. You didn’t plan that either.

Sometimes our mouths speak before our mind think through all the implications. We say things that we regret later. Our motives begin from a good place but our emotions take over and make things worse than they should be. It happens to all of us because we are fallible humans. It happened to Peter.

There is NO doubt in our minds the depth of love Peter had for Jesus, His Master and Beloved Friend. At the last Passover dinner Jesus shared what was about to happen. Peter was up in arms ready to fight for his Lord. Jesus told him he, instead, would deny him three times before the night was over…before the rooster crows. Peter vehemently denied it. Good intentions.

In the garden Jesus is arrested while his betrayer, Judas looks on. Peter’s emotions jump to the surface. He pulls out a sword in defense of His Master (not sure he thought this through) and cuts off the ear of the Chief Priest’s servant! Jesus quickly heals the servant (protecting Peter) and the arrest moves forward peacefully. Jesus calms the situation. Peter, from a place of love, fearfully stays close by. He doesn’t run like the others. Good intentions.

Peter stays in the shadows, close by with another disciple. The other unnamed disciple was known by the Chief Priest, so he got Peter and himself into the courtyard, to be closer still. At the gate, Peter is asked, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples”? Peter’s first reaction is denial so he can get to where he wants to be…close to his Lord.
Good intentions.

While Jesus is being interrogated by the Chief Priest, Peter tries to blend into the group warming themselves by the fire in the courtyard. He probably hears the loud voices and the slap across the face of his Master’s face as Jesus tells the Truth. Peter’s stomach is probably churning with emotional pain. His heart skips a beat at each slap. Peter is questioned again, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” and Peter denies it once more so he could stay close by. Good intentions.

Then the ultimate question that struck fear in Peter’s heart, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” This person was a relative of the man whom Peter had attacked by cutting off his ear! Still Peter controls every emotion inside him and denies knowing Jesus once more. His intentions might have been good but he lied openly to knowing Jesus. The rooster crows. Peter cries remorsefully.

All the good intentions do not cover the denial of knowing Jesus. Only the blood of the Savior that will be shed will cover the multitude of sin. Peter’s denial, good intentions, and emotional outbursts and our sin…all forgiven.

So, we cannot be too hard on Peter. What would you have done? What do we think, say and do when faced with “Aren’t you one of His disciples?” in the workplace or crowd who do not care to know Jesus. What if our lives depended on our answer? Will we quickly say “YES, I am one of His!”, or stammer around, considering the situation first?

Our first thought should always be love for Christ. That love should drive every word that comes from our minds and mouths. May we proclaim our Redeemer with no hesitation in any situation. May we go beyond good intentions to living life abundantly, holding nothing back. May we show and tell the world about Jesus by our words and actions in a Spirit of love.

Let’s learn from Peter. Cutting off their ears will not help them hear the Truth that will set them free. Don’t let fear drive us, let the love of Christ be our guide.

John 18, The Message
Seized in the Garden at Night

Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)

10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.

11 Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”

12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.

15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.

17 The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “No, I’m not.”

18 The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.

The Interrogation
19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a conspirator? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”

22 When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”

23 Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”

24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.

John 18 Peter

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”

He denied it, “Not me.”

26 One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

27 Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Blessed be Your Name. This story of You leads us even deeper into the love you have for us. Continue to transform us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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FATHER, IT’S TIME

Posted on November 29, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

This morning we are perplexed with a hiccup in our paperwork to go on mission to Bolivia. The issue will be solved one way or another, but time is now short to solve it. So, this next passage is “timely” for me. It is great and very comforting to be reminded that Jesus prayed for his disciples who would carry on the work He began. He also prayed for all who would come after them in following Him in His work to help people find and follow Him.
Yes, before He went to the Cross for us, Jesus Christ prayed for us…ALL of us who believe and trust in Him. I tremble at the very thought that we were on His mind then. We are on His mind now. Thank you, Holy Spirit for this amazing love!

Timing is everything. We learn that timing is in the hands of God, our Father in heaven who hears us on earth. At the right time, Jesus saved us. But He stops to pray, explaining His mission and ours in detail.

Read Jesus’ prayer slowly and be blessed. He begins with Who He is and why He was sent to earth. He follows with Who God is and describes their relationship “before there was a world.” Then he prays for his dearly loved disciples. Jesus follows by praying for us! He prays for protection from the world for his followers! He prays for us to be one heart and one mind.

What kind of love is this that Jesus would stop and pray passionately for his followers then and for all of us now? What love to ask for protection and help from the Father for us…just before HE is tortured and beaten and then nailed to a cross in payment for our sin? Can we grasp the depth of this expressed love that flows through this conversation with God, the Father?

“In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I’m consecrating myself for their sake so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.” Wow.

John 17 prayer of Jesus

John 17, The Message
Jesus’ Prayer for His Followers

1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:

Father, it’s time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.

6-12 I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;
They’ll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

20-23 I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.

24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
It’s time our desires match yours. May YOUR timing be revealed and Your work completed that you began in us. In the Name of Jesus Christ, let our mission continue in Truth according to Your Time. Father, it’s time to lean into You. Thank you, dear Jesus for praying for us then and now. Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding us and helping us keep our minds working toward the goal, reminding us of the bigger picture…all in God’s time.
In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen. I believe.

“So that your love for me might be in them exactly as I am in them.”

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CONVINCED!

Posted on November 28, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

Those of us who have given birth know the pain in those final moments of bringing that child into the world. We know it was painful, but that incredible pain is replaced in seconds with an even more unspeakable, indescribable joy when that babe is placed on our chest. Tears of happiness fall and a smile exudes from our face that cannot be controlled. New birth is a miracle from God!

It is no wonder that Jesus uses childbirth as a metaphor to explain His departure from earth. Sadness and pain followed but inexplicable joy in seeing Him again…ALIVE…forever! “When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you.”—Jesus

“Your joy will be a river overflowing it’s banks!” You will have a new relationship with God. You can go directly to Him and ask anything about what I have revealed to you, Jesus tells them. “Because you’ve committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly.” Did you get that? When we believe and are convinced Who Jesus is and that He is God and came from God (Trinity), God the Father loves us directly. No one is between. We can go directly to God with no middle man.

“Now we know…”, say the disciples. You can almost hear a big sigh of relief. Ah, now we get it! “We’re CONVINCED you came from God.” Have you had that big “Ah, ha” moment in your life where, no matter what, you are convinced you can go directly to God about anything? I pray it is, because it is a crucial and relative point of our new birth in Christ…knowing, believing and being convinced of this fact. It’s where the joy unspeakable and full of glory comes from as we live each day. Our anxiousness falls away when we are convinced of the Truth of God’s love for us.

Jesus drives the point home, “Do you finally believe?”

“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart I’ve conquered the world.”

John 16 In Me

John 16, The Message
Joy Like a River Overflowing
17-18 That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

19-20 Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.

21-23 “When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.

23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

25-28 “I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”

29-30 His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”

31-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Once more thought to think about seriously, take all the time you need this morning and all day…”Do you believe?” Are you convinced, assured, unshakable and deeply at peace knowing God is with us always? His line of communication is always open…no waiting while heavenly music plays…He will not put you on hold or send you to voice mail!

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have restored the joy of my salvation just by reading Your Word and being reminded of what You have done, are doing and will do in my life. I pray for everyone who reads this today to be blessed, to be filled to overflow with Your joy that flows through Your Holy Spirit. I am convinced. I know Whom I have believed and trusted for years. I am deeply at peace. Your gift to us…peace.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Joy unspeakable

 

And I’m singing…

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told!

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OUR FRIEND, OUR HELPER

Posted on November 27, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

“How sweet it is to be loved by you” is the melody I have in my mind as I read our next passage in John’s gospel. How sweet it is to be unconditionally loved and deeply cared for by another. To know we are loved and to love back deeply puts a spring in our step and gives us confidence for life. Joy and hope bubbles in our soul because of a close, dear, loving relationship such as this. To know we have a Friend who will never leave us, will help us through anything that comes our way and guides us into all Truth about God and Life is comforting, sometimes convicting, and always challenging…in a great way!

“Listen to me”, we say to other humans. What we are also saying is love and understand me. Know me. Love me. This Friend does all that and more! Who wouldn’t want a Friend like this? Our Lord knows just what we need…and sends a part of Himself and God…to stand in His place…as our dearest Friend. This Friend and Helper is the Holy Spirit.

Jesus explains clearly the mission and work of the Holy Spirit who lives in all who believe, accept and walk with Him. Read, savor, think about it and be blessed! Cherish Our Friend and Helper.

John 16 Helper

John 16, The Message
The Friend Will Come

4-7 “I didn’t tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, ‘Where are you going?’ Instead, the longer I’ve talked, the sadder you’ve become. So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you.

8-11 “When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.

12-15 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’

16 “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

Think about it…Our Friend, The Holy Spirit will:

–Expose Truth for us.
–Love us as much as Jesus loves us.
–Transform our thinking to be more like Jesus
–Help us to obey Jesus
–Teach us
–Lead us
–Show us the best way to solve problems
–Guide our thoughts and actions
–Help us be good stewards of life
–Will point to God and give all glory to Him!
–Will make sense of what we don’t understand right now
–Will grow us to mature in the Holy Fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, all things good and pleasing to God!
–Give power and strength when we are weak
–Prays for us when our words will not come to mind (Rom 8)

The Apostle Paul tells us more about how to live with this Power Who lives in us…(Galatians 5)

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

John 16 Holy Spirit

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are Perfect in all ways. You knew we would need help so you provided The Friend of all friends. You gave us a part of You to live in us to help us navigate this world as we prepare for the next life with You. Thank you. You are God and we are not. We need you every hour…and You knew that. So, every hour we can call on You and Your Holy Spirit is there. Always. Continue to transform our minds, hearts and souls. Thank you, Holy Spirit! What a comfort you are…
In Jesus Name, Amen

And now I’m singing…

There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord

There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory

(“Holy Spirit”, by Francesca Battistelli)

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HATE…FOR NO GOOD REASON

Posted on November 26, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

After delay upon delay you get between the TV and your child. You tell the child to leave the TV and go clean his/her room. You follow the child to make sure they don’t take another route to delay the task. You sit on the bed to make sure the process begins. As you rise to go back to your own work, your dearly beloved mumbles something under his/her breath. You ask, “what did you say?” And you get an answer that breaks your heart. “I hate you!”

You have a friend who has asked for your advice about a troubling matter. You see the truth of the matter and express it because they asked and because you love them dearly. You don’t see that person for days. When you do see them, there is now hate where there was love in their eyes. They didn’t want truth, they only wanted validation for their sin and misery.

Jesus said, “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start by hating me.” I cannot imagine hating Jesus. In fact, how it must break the heart of God for people to yell hateful words, like the parent of the child who has been told to simply clean their room. It seems we hate…for no good reason.

John 15, The Message
Hated by the World
18-19 “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you.

20 “When that happens, remember this: Servants don’t get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.

21-25 “They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it’s all the same. If I hadn’t done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn’t be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, ‘They hated me for no good reason.’

26-27 “When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start.”

“I’ve told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead.” 
–Jesus

John 15 better

What do we learn?
–Jesus loves us. Jesus loves all people. He loves those who hate him. “Love your enemies”, He teaches all of us. So when hate is spewed, do not hate back. Love…like He loves.
–The world will hate us but be amazed by God’s love in us if we return love for their hate.
–It rough when your own child says they hate you, but remember they are only frustrated because you challenged them. Return God’s love and remind them that you will love them no matter what…but they still have to clean their room. Don’t take it personally.
–When a friend leaves because you loved them and told them the truth in love, they will find their way back to you if they love God, too. Continue to pray for them.
–When a person betrays you, remember Jesus was betrayed, too. He loved still, so do we.
–“They hated me for no good reason,” says Jesus. Oh how true this is! Hate is a strong emotion that comes from a deep fear of making us change our comfortable ways. Hate is a willful reaction to someone challenging our own strong will to do it our way to being and doing life better. We hate criticism. We hate what is different. We hate change. Period.
–Jesus is the Way Maker. He is also the Change Maker. He accepts where we are, but loves us enough not to leave us there.
–Jesus promises Help. His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth from God, “will confirm everything about me”, says Jesus. For those who believe The Way and The Truth live Life guided by His Holy Spirit. Yes! What a wonderful Counselor. He never leaves us and will always be there to help us through troubling, challenging times.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your Spirit who guides us, relentlessly loves us and helps us love those who hate us like they hated you…for no good reason. Continue to help us love like you love. Help us defuse hate with Your Love in us, flowing through us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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INTIMATE AND ORGANIC

Posted on November 25, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

We bought a bunch of grapes a few weeks ago. They were huge, spotless, firm and beautiful on the outside. AND they were on sale! I brought them home and after putting away the other groceries I washed them so we could eat them immediately. We love grapes! Good grapes are a great healthy snack! Unless…

I popped a whole grape into my mouth as I was washing them. Oh, the bitterness. I had to spit it out. The grape I ate had a sour taste as if many chemicals had been added. I tried another one from another part of the vine. It had the same earthy taste. Ugh. What a disappointment to see what you think will be great and then taste only bitterness. I won’t buy that brand again.

Sometimes it pays to buy organic, a product not chemically enhanced. More concern with flavor over appearance should be monitored carefully. Mm.

Is this what Jesus is talking about as He teaches his followers about being connected to the REAL Vine? Jesus is the Vine. We are the branches who bear the fruit. What kind of fruit are we bearing? “When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.” –Jesus

Why? Because it’s all about God! It’s not about us. It’s Who we are connected to that matters in the production of organic, nothing added to His Word, fruit. When we are intimately connected to Jesus, the Vine, all nourishment comes from Him. He lives in us and we live in Him. The “fruit” is a result of the glory of our Father with the work of His Holy Spirit growing and maturing us. Nothing more added. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal 5) His “fruit” is sweet to the taste and beautiful to the touch. This fruit is a result of intimate love with the Vine.

Jesus reminds us how to love intimately once more in our growing and maturing. “Love like I have loved you”, Jesus tells us. “This is the best way to love.” It is this intimate, organic, child like, unconditional love that sweetens the taste of the fruit we bear.

“I put you in the world to bear fruit.” “Love one another.” This is not a suggestion for us but a command from The Vine we are connected to as branches. Loving others, like Jesus loves, is a work of the Holy Spirit in us when we stay connected to The Vine.

John 15 connected

John 15, The Message
The Vine and the Branches

1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

9-10 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

17 “But remember the root command: Love one another.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to love like you love. Prune what does not belong. Produce the fruit in us that will give You glory, honor and praise.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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