THE CHILDREN

Posted on April 25, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Same trap. When program overtakes true ministry in our motivations to serve…

Matthew 19, The Message
To Enter God’s Kingdom
13-15 One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.

matthew 19 like a child

Dear Heavenly Father,
As I teach children, spur me on with what and why I am doing this…to be a difference for the children…not satisfy my own agenda or the academy’s program. You know how I love to see their smiles when they learn. May I put a smile on Your face today as I teach. In Jesus Name, Amen

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MARRIAGE, GOD’S WORK OF ART

Posted on April 23, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Matthew 19, The Message
19 1-2 When Jesus had completed these teachings, he left Galilee and crossed the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Great crowds followed him there, and he healed them.

3 One day the Pharisees were badgering him: “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Matthew 19 work of art

 

 

4-6 He answered, “Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh—no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”

 

 

 

 

7 They shot back in rebuttal, “If that’s so, why did Moses give instructions for divorce papers and divorce procedures?”

8-9 Jesus said, “Moses provided for divorce as a concession to your hard heartedness, but it is not part of God’s original plan. I’m holding you to the original plan, and holding you liable for adultery if you divorce your faithful wife and then marry someone else. I make an exception in cases where the spouse has committed adultery.”

10 Jesus’ disciples objected, “If those are the terms of marriage, we’re stuck. Why get married?”

11-12 But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought. Others never get asked—or accepted. And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons. But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”

Simple Truth. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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HOW MANY TIMES?!

Posted on April 22, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

We will always have people in our lives who need forgiveness for the hurt they deal out daily to us and others. Some people offend, gossip, bring us down and bully probably because they are hurt from people who bully. Sometimes people hurt others because of staying stuck in an immature world where they think they are the only one in the world who needs attention and care. Sometimes we are those people. We all stand in need of forgiveness. Some of us ask for forgiveness. Some don’t. Many hurt people just keep the cycle of hurt going and don’t realize the offense, the need to repent and ask for forgiveness. We, who are hurt, ask, “how many times must I forgive and put up with these people?”

Peter had the guts to ask Jesus this same question. Jesus delivers the profound answer in a very understandable way.

Matthew 18, The Message
A Story About Forgiveness
21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

22 Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25 “The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27 “The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28 “The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’

29-31 “The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35 “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.”

Matthew 18 power of forgiveness

More thoughts…
–How many times has God forgiven me…without conditions?
–True forgiveness does not add an “if”.
–To forgive is to set things right with God who forgave me.
–Jesus is the supreme example of forgiveness, who laid down his life for me. For You.
–There was a movie years ago (Love Story) that had a famous, but very untrue quote, “Love means never having to say you are sorry.” World thinking. Jesus says repent, seek forgiveness and then forgive as He forgives us…unconditionally.

What if the person nevers asks for forgiveness? Forgive them anyway. Unconditionally. Peace is the gift for unconditional forgiveness. I want peace. I want to live peace, even in the eye of life’s storms that come and go.
–Forgiveness lives at the corner of mercy and grace.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the forgiveness of all our sin. I repent of those times I hung on to the offense and hurt without forgiving for fear of being hurt again. It doesn’t work that way and you have reminded me of that once again. I will pray once more, like you taught us to pray, with repentance in my heart, “Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who merely hurt or offend us.” Lead us not into the temptation to hold a grudge, but deliver us from this evil that constrains us and holds us back from your gift of peace.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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I’LL BE THERE

Posted on April 21, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled

Have you ever lost something that was so valuable to you that you felt physically sick? Maybe it was a precious object that was passed down to you from generations. This object tied you to them somehow so you enjoyed looking at it and thinking of them. But now it is lost. What do you do? You probably stop what you are doing and look for it. You search until every box is emptied, every nook and cranny in your home is scanned and every piece of furniture moved around until you find it. You worry and fret until that object is found. Losing a friendship is even worse.

We are the objects of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Our relationship with God means everything to Him. He loves us so much, that if we were lost, He would look for us. He loves you and I so much that He died for us. He loves you and I so much that He wants us to love each other like He loves us.

When we finally get it together and really understand and live this kind of love, He will show up and be right in the middle of our thoughts and converstations. In fact, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth, and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” Wow…meditate on these profound assurances…take all the time you need.

Matthew 18, The Message
(The MEssage…meant for me. How about you?)

Work It Out Between You
12-14 “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.

15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.

18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

http://stephencuyos.com

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us so much it hurt. Thank you for searching for me until you found me. Thank you for not letting me go. Thank you for being there. Always. And forever.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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LIKE A CHILD

Posted on April 20, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

As grandparents our grandkids from time to time let us know that they think we can do anything. It comes up in conversation in the car or at home while doing an activity. I might say, “I don’t think I can do this right.” And the youngest will say, “Ah, grandma, you can do it…you can do anything.” Wow, his childlike faith in me is humbling. It comes from a place of love for us and our love for him. It is the same with God. We are his children. We are not to be childISH in our faith, demanding our own way and wanting our desires to be met. But we are to be childLIKE in our knowledge that God can and will do anything He says He will do. He is God and we are not.

“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God?”, the disciples ask Jesus. Listen to the response with more teaching than they asked for in this next passage. We even get a lesson on bullying. And yes, there are church bullies amoung us. We need to make sure we are not one of them.

Matthew 18, The Message
Whoever Becomes Simple Again
18 At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?”

2-5 For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.

6-7 “But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.

8-9 “If your hand or your foot gets in the way of God, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owners of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.

10 “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

matthew 18 children

More thoughts…
Grandma Lacquement was one of my greatest examples as a person with a simple, uncomplicated, childlike faith. No matter what, no one on earth was going to tell her that God would not hear her fervent prayers each day. This simple faith in Jesus led her to be loving and kind to others, serving them meals on their journeys from here to there. It also led her to teach her grandchildren to always stand up and testify for Jesus every chance available. I cherish the memory of this childlike faith and pray that I am following as closely as possilbe in her teaching in my own faith.

Simple does not mean you are dull and unlearned. It means you are smart enough to know that God is God and you are not. It means that you would rather trust the Creator of the universe than rely on mere mankind to save you. It means that in your heart, Jesus is King. Childlike faith draws you to the throne of God each day, with Jesus as your advocate, to learn more ways to love Him and to love others. This faith follows His commands without question for you know that what God wants for you is best. God’s Presence dwells in a person with childlike faith in Him. I saw God presence in Grandma. I feel God’s Presence in my own life. I praise God for the simplicity of faith.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for teaching us about our childlike faith in You. This is exactly what you want from us. We repent of trying to “grow up” our own way and grow away from you in the process. We come to you with knowing you can do anything. We come to you because you are everything to us. Thank you, Lord for Your Holy Presence in us. Thank you for signs of working all around us. No one is like You, God. Nothing is too hard for You. Help us to see Your wonders and immediately praise Your Name today.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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PAYING TAXES – SUCH A HUMAN THING

Posted on April 19, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Yesterday was the dreaded day for those of us who didn’t quite hold out enough to pay the dreaded tax to the local, state and national government. Why is it a dread? We knew it was coming. All who make a living give back so we can drive on passable roads, cross safe bridges, help those in real need, and many other benefits of iving in the United States. Is our mandated share being used wisely? Not all the time, but we have the freedom to vote for those who will use it to effieciently. It seems it has a lot to do with our attitude about our money. Mm.

These thoughts come as I read our next appropriate and relevant passage in Matthew. Jesus teaches Peter and the rest of the helpers the meaning of taxes and the attitude of living life to the full. Jesus always focuses our attention back to the bottom line…trusting Him. Paying taxes is purely a human thing.

Matthew 17, The Message
24 When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”

25 Peter said, “Of course.”

But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”

26-27 He answered, “His subjects.”

Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”

Matthew 17 coin

Take a closer look…
–I’m not sure Peter really knew that Jesus did or did not pay taxes when approaced by the scary tax men of his day. So Jesus cleared things up for him. This became another “teachable moment”.
–In God’s Kingdom, as His children, heirs with Jesus Christ we are free! We give back, not as a tax, but as a way to help others find and follow Jesus!
–We live in a land that requires paying taxes. We respect the authorities voted by us to govern us and we pay. What is that to God? It is being obedient to the human government and trusting in God to provide what is needed to satisfy the tax share and our daily manna for living. Ultimate we trust God to provide all our needs.
–He sent a fisherman to get the tax! Jesus loves to use the talents we have to join Him in His work. What another grand, teachable moment! This life, with taxes and other human tasks, is temporary. With God we have freedom now and life forever with Him.
–Pay the tax then forget about it. There is more important things to think about…like following Jesus who provides peace and joy in our hearts.

Dear Heavenly Father, You teach us so many things in such a few words. Give us wisdom, insight and understanding as we live life here in preparation for life with you forever. May we move always to the rhythm of your grace. May we think higher thoughts than groaning over paying human taxes. In Jesus Name, Amen

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SIMPLE TRUTH

Posted on April 18, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Do we pray for rain with an umbrella in one hand expecting it to come? That is faith. Do we pray for a loved one’s physical, mental, spiritual condition, then walk away and worry and fret? That is not so much faith. Do we take God seriously? Jesus is asking that same question of his novice apprentices as they are sent out to minister as He did among needy people.

Matthew 17, The Message
With a Mere Kernel of Faith
14-16 At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, “Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him.”

17-18 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

19 When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, “Why couldn’t we throw it out?”

20 “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

22-23 As they were regrouping in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him—and three days later he will be raised alive.” The disciples felt terrible.

Matthew 17 faith

What do we learn?
–He is God and we are not.
–Our faith, in Jesus Name, can move mountains of despair, needs, obstructions, circumstances and the insides of our hearts and the hearts of others…IF we take God seriously, at His Word.
–NOTHING is too hard for God. SO, there is nothing we cannot tackle with Him.
–If we, like the disciples, can’t handle the faith for the small stuff, then how can we believe that in three days Jesus rose from the grave? SERIOUSLY, take God at His Word.
–SIMPLE TRUTH: The same power that lifted Jesus from death to life forever is the SAME power that is living in us! Turn it on and build the kind of faith that moves boulders and mountains!

In Jesus Name, Amen!

And I’m singing…
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse
All your money talents time and love
Consecrate them all upon the altar
While your Savior from above speaks sweetly

Chorus 1
Trust Me try Me
(Trust Me yes then try Me prove Me)
Prove Me saith the Lord of hosts
And see if a blessing
Unmeasured blessing
I will not pour out on thee

Verse 2
When my wavering faith in trials falter
When His guiding hand I cannot see
Then in wondrous love and tender mercy
Through His Word He says to me My child just

Verse 3
I have yielded Him my life forever
All I am or have or hope to be
Naught on earth my hold on Him can sever
While I hear Him say to me My child just

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FREE TO TALK

Posted on April 17, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Something exciting has happened to you, but it isn’t time to share it with everyone just yet. Maybe it is the hope of a new home, but you need to sell the one you have. Maybe it is the promise of new birth, but it is too early to share the news. Perhaps it is a new job, but the promotion hasn’t been announced, so it is too early to tell the family. Have you had this giddy feeling of secret hope and joy? And you just can’t wait to tell others about what you know?

So did Jesus’ special disciples. They experience something grand and glorious that no one on earth as seen or heard, but they can’t talk about it…yet.

Matthew 17, The Message

Sunlight Poured from His Face
17 1-3 Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

4 Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”

5 While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

6-8 When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus.

9 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t breathe a word of what you’ve seen. After the Son of Man is raised from the dead, you are free to talk.”

Matthew 17 glory

Think about it…
–When the disciples were free to talk about it, they shouted from the rooftops of every town and city!
–WE are free to talk about His Story!
–His Light reflects on our faces after being with Him in prayer and in His Word…and then talk about Jesus!
–We don’t need to build statues or monuments, we only need to see Jesus, only Jesus.
–We are FREE to talk about it! Jesus lives in us!

Dear Heavenly Father, What a grand moment in time for mere men to hear Your Voice and worship Your Son! We praise you this morning with humbled adoration. You are God and we are not. There is nothing we can build that compares to Your Glory! May Your Glory be seen in me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

Posted on April 16, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Matthew 16, The Message
Son of Man, Son of God
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”

READERS! Who do YOU say Jesus is? The answer could change your spiritual address forever! WHO do you say He is?

16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

THE CORRECT ANSWER gives us the keys to God’s Kingdom thinking and living! Jesus IS the risen Messiah and now we get to tell EVERYONE HE IS ALIVE!

You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”

23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

AGAIN…WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Jesus did just what He said He would do. No one on earth can do exactly as promised like Jesus can. Why trust anyone else but the Son of God, who IS God, the creator of the Universe and in control of all of it?

Who is Jesus…The One who loves us…

Matthew 16 risen

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” John 3:16-18, The Message

WHO do you say Jesus is? He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is my Savior and my Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

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RUNT BELIEVERS

Posted on April 15, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthw – Fulfilled.

We perform an experiment at the science academy where I teach called “elephant toothpaste”. We mix a small amount of yeast in warm water and set it aside. In a larger Erlenmeyer flask, we put 150ml of hydrogen perioxide with a few drops of liquid dish soap. When the yeast is poured into the H2O2, a “war of chemicals occur”, as we say to the students.

The yeast acts as a catalyst to cause a breaking apart of the molecules, reducing it to merely H2O as the oxygen (O2) escapes in the “war” from the top of the flask. It’s quite an explosion that causes the students to respond with, “Wow, can I touch it?” In this exothermic, chemical reaction, heat is released to double the tempature of the mixture before adding the yeast. Oxygen is literally taken away. Mm.

So, why the science lesson today? Because Jesus used yeast as an example to his “runt believers” who are still growing in the work that God sent Him to do. His guys thought He was talking about the bread they forgot to pack for the next journey, but Jesus was talking beyond the physical to the spiritual reaction that can occur when the yeast of the Pharesee-Sadducee doctrine is added to lives. This yeast was deadly, sinful and causes spiritual wars that break apart relationships with God and with others.

This yeast was a judgemental, self produced power causing self righteous attitudes, thinking they were God, forgetting the One and Only God by laying Him aside. God was out of the equation altogether. This “yeast” of bad doctrine can work it’s way into our lives to bring on a war of confusion, breaking our relationship with God and others, taking away our life-sustaining spiritual breath of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16, The Message
Some Bad Yeast
16 1-4 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

5-6 On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. In the meantime, Jesus said to them, “Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.”

7-12 Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. Jesus knew what they were doing and said, “Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! Haven’t you caught on yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? Haven’t you realized yet that bread isn’t the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.” Then they got it: that he wasn’t concerned about eating, but teaching—the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.

Matthew 16 yeast

What do we learn?

We are not to follow mere men and women, with man-made traditions, we follow God by saying yes to His Son, Jesus Christ who paid the debt of our sin forever. We allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, taking over all the dark places in our hearts, minds and souls to help us grow in love. With His power living in us, we then have the courage to walk humbly, extending mercy for others as it was kindly given to us. We move freely in the rhythm of God’s grace because we are redeemed! No more wars of confusion! Only peace, no matter what the circumstances are around us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Keep us alert to the yeast of bad doctrine not of You, but of man seeking to be above You. Evil is the author of confusion and strife, but You bring order to chaos. You are our peace in the eye of the storm. You are God and we are not. Help us. Save us. Grow us. Help us live it boldly.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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