IT ISN’T ME, IS IT?

Posted on January 5, 2015 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

As little children, who do not want to appear guilty when caught in the act, often say, “It wasn’t me!” As a teacher on the playground, all you have to do is look at them, (yes, a good teacher has “the look” perfected), look into their eyes and wait. The next thing the guilty party will say, “Well, everyone else was doing it!” Another look with a well planned pause gets most kids to the confession stage when they finally give in and say, “I’m sorry”. These are the games we play when confronted with what we have done.

Do we do this with Jesus? When His Holy Spirit convicts us with Truth by reading His Word, hearing a sermon, or just His whisper to our hearts, how do we respond? How do deal with it? Can you imagine the look in Jesus eyes as He waits for us to reply with the truth of our sin?

We are coming to Jesus last days on earth. Jesus confronts His betrayer, Judas, who has worked a deal with the locals to have Him arrested. What a reply, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?” What?! This is different than our response as children, but just as ridiculous. Wouldn’t you know if it was you? Mm. Maybe not. We are good at rationalizing our sin and/or denying it’s existence in us altogether.

Matthew 26, The Message

The Traitor
17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”

18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”

22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

DON’T PLAY GAMES…
I do not read in the gospels where Judas was really sorry for what He did. He was sorry for getting caught, regretful, so much so He killed himself…but he was not remorsefully sorry he did it. By this, I mean, did He ask for forgiveness? I will study this more to really understand Judas. But the fact remains Judas betrayed His Friend, Jesus, who could have been His Savior. He played dishonest games with our Lord right until the end. Would it have changed the outcome, no. But it might have changed the betrayer. Yes, this takes more thought and study!

WHAT ABOUT US?
We must evaluate our lives by daily asking, It isn’t me, is it? Am I playing games with you Jesus? Am I just talking big but walking small? Our pastor challenged us this Sunday with a bigger question and a prayer to pray for every day of this year…Am I in-sync with God, the Father? If things in our lives are not making sense, maybe we are out of sync with what God wants for us. His best.

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Dear Heavenly Father,
Today I want to avoid the sin that often entangles me, and I desire to see clearly the righteous acts that You would have me to do. I pray that you would strengthen my faith as I focus on You, and that You would give me the wisdom to align my priorities properly. I want my heart to be in sync with Your heart, so help me to sow righteousness in all that I do today! In the powerful Name of Jesus, I pray! Amen.

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PRECIOUS TIME

Posted on January 4, 2015 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

We have a habit, tradition or just “way we do things” in Oklahoma where I grew up. Goodbyes can last for another hour or so from the initial, “Well, I guess we better go…”. We all get up and take visitors to the door, walk them out to their vehicle, give hugs all around and talk a bit more in this precious time left before departure. Rule of Thumb? The less you get to see friends and relatives the longer the goodbye takes.

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However, not everyone does it this way. Some don’t even get up out of their chairs. We think something is terribly wrong with the relationship, if no one walks you out to the beginning of your travel home. We think this time is precious and what you say as you leave important. The last words are what you remember most!

I think of our long, (possibly too long, especially in the minds of kids) goodbyes as I read about the last days of Jesus on earth. I’m considering what He must be thinking as he tries to get His best friends he has walked with all this time, His disciples, to understand what He knows is about to happen. At the end of all His story examples about how to invest wisely in the Kingdom, live life to the full, blessing others by loving everyone, telling them HE is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He now begins his goodbyes.

Also, in the next few paragraphs, betrayal and an act of sacrificial love are presented to us and our emotions run the gamut of anger to weeping. With this dichotomy of thinking it reminds us to evaluate where we are in our own lives. There are only two choices, you know. Are we with Jesus or against Him? No middle ground here.

Matthew 25, The Message

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOODBYE…
26 1-2 When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, “You know that Passover comes in two days. That’s when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.”

MEANWHILE…
3-5 At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. “We don’t want a riot on our hands,” they said.

WRONG FOCUS…
6-9 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.”

PRECIOUS TIME LEFT REVEALS THE HEART
10-13 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.”

THE BEGINNING OF THE BETRAYAL…AS PREDICTED.
14-16 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

Where is our heart focus? Time is precious, no matter how much time we think we have left. Time belongs to God. Only HE knows the time we have left here on earth. He owns every minute whether we choose to give it to Him or not. Choose well…for our own sake.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you, once again, for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word that proclaims Your unconditional love, mercy and grace for us. We repent of wasted moments of precious time. Help us move on, with an even greater focus of heart, mind and soul for You and for others. Make me a blessing to You by the pouring out of my soul, like a rich perfume, over someone else today. In Jesus Name, Amen

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OLD GOAT OR SUPER SHEEP?

Posted on January 3, 2015 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Comedian, Ken Davis, was made famous by his hysterical stories about sheep…at least in my opinion. I still laugh at this monologue today as he tells us “sheep are dumb” and “God, I don’t want to be a sheep, they don’t even run right”. But the Bible says, “all we like sheep…follow the Master.” Sheep go where He goes. Sheep are led to still waters by the Master for they are afraid of rushing water or any water that moves. Maybe Ken was right. Sheep are so afraid that if you try to scare one but jumping from behind a corner and yell, BOO, they literally die of fright.

The reason I relate…my grandpa had sheep…and goats. As a kid, I confess I pestered (Grandpa’s term) the sheep and the goats. Ken is right in his observation of sheep. Between the two, however, Jesus reminds us it is better to be a sheep. Always. Especially when He comes. Listen to His analogy in His story…and be careful who you might call “an old goat”.

Matthew 25, The Message

The Sheep and the Goats
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

Maybe sheep who follow their Master aren’t so dumb after all! But the key is to FOLLOW THE MASTER, believing and behaving as He has taught us and be willing to lay down our own interests, like He did, for the sake of others, so they may know the Master and follow, too. If we do this…as Ken Davis says…we become Super Sheep! Ta Da! With all the power to transform our lives coming from the Master who leads us. Don’t be an old goat!

SuperSheep

Dear Heavenly Father, Wow! What a reminder to follow You, no matter what, for all the reasons, you taught us! I’m clinging to the thought that when I do for others, I’m see You in their eyes because I’m doing it for you through them! What a lesson! You are, indeed, the Master, the Shepherd who leads us…and then sorts us out in the end. I want to be a sheep! A Super Sheep!
In Jesus Name, Amen

  1. store.kendavis.com/products/Super-Sheep-DVD-by-Ken-Davis…   Cached

    Get Super Sheep DVD and other hilarious products direct from Ken Davis. Great Christian Comedy for the whole family.
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THE MASTER’S INVESTMENT – US!

Posted on January 2, 2015 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Let me begin with the statement that I was taught as a child and that I still believe. You cannot out give God! The Master invests in us by giving us what we need and more, not so we can merely survive in this world but as an investment opportunity and teaching tool to see, given our God-given abilities, how we will invest what He gives us for His Kingdom purposes. How are we doing?

I will never forget…THE INVESTMENT IN ME!
As a child growing up in a small, but vibrant, growing church at the time, we had outgrown our small building. We began a building project with an enormous amount of faith. To raise funds to move forward, everyone present one evening, even children who accepted Christ and wanted to be a part of the process were given an amount of money, according to our abilities to invest it! Yes, just like this story that Jesus taught us. I was still in grade school, 5th grade, to be exact. I was given $2. (That was a lot of money back then in the 60’s!)

With the help of my mom, we went to the store and bought ingredients to make fudge. I made it. Cut it into generous pieces and wrapped each piece in clear wrap so my “customers” could see what they were buying. I put the pieces of fudge in my lunchbox and went off to see how much I could sell. I began with a boy who I knew would “bite” into this project with gusto because I had watched his abilities to eat before in the cafeteria. I knew my clients! God gave me that ability.

I sold each piece for 25 cents. Given the great ooh’s and ah’s review from the first kid’s purchase and consumption, I sold out before the first bell rang to begin class. Yahoo! More than doubled my investment! I ran home to tell mom. She called the pastor, he told me, “Great work, keep it up!” And I did. I made fudge every night it for a month, the time period of the project.

fudge

I don’t recall how much was made and sold, but I do remember the lesson I learned that season of my life. I have carried that attitude with me all this time. You cannot out give God and what He has given to you. You must invest, go out on a limb, take a risk for what is the “risk” really when God is in it?

I still live a pretty child-like, faith-filled simplistic life in some people’s minds. But I adore my Lord and what He shows me each day. Believe me, He is worth it all, through every trial and trouble, He teaches, comforts and says, “Great work, keep it up!” God is the One and Only for Whom His investment in You pays off every time. Every. Time.

NOW THE STORY THAT JESUS TAUGHT

Matthew 25, Message

The Story About Investment
14-18 “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

19-21 “After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

22-23 “The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

24-25 “The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

26-27 “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28-30 “‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

So, I ask the question again, How are we doing?

Dear Heavenly Father, You are incredibly awesome and unbelievably perfect…and I do believe and I cannot deny your power at work in us. You have shown me so many times the power of your love, mercy and grace. You have shown me how to live my life. You have also shown me how to raise up from my failures and missteps and invest again. Thank you for investing Your life for my family, friends and for me. Thank you for giving your life for everyone in the whole world. You gave Your One and Only Son so that we who believe would live with you forever. What an investment in our souls! Continue to teach us and go with us, Emmanuel! In Jesus Name, Amen

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KEEP THE LAMP FED

Posted on January 1, 2015 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

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“Missed it by that much” said often by one of my favorite characters, in television’s Get Smart episodes and later a good movie. The agent, Maxwell Smart, took pride in being prepared for anything that might happen to a spy of his caliper. However, the bungling spy seemed to miss it, his timing was off and what he wanted to accomplish failed. He was the spy of epic failure. Then there was Agent 99 who came through for him…every time. She knew the right timing. Together they typically won in the end, with her pulling him out of trouble.

Timing is everything.

As we read Jesus’ story of the virgins, we are reminded that we cannot afford to “miss it by that much”. We must “keep the lamp fed”, always prepared for that time when Jesus, our bridegroom, comes to take us, his bride, to our forever home.

Matthew 25, Msg

The Story of the Virgins
25 1-5 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

7-8 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

9 “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

10 “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

11 “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

12 “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

13 “So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

GET SMART-ER!
The smart virgins were prepared for the bridegroom when He came in His time, with enough oil to keep feeding their lamp. I am thinking about this statement and wondering what I’m doing and who I’m being as I keep “feeding my lamp” in the wait time of His arrival? How do I feed my lamp? How do I keep The Light of my lamp shining?

FEEDING OUR LAMP
1. Welcome the Lord into each new day by diving into His Word. Let it soak in. Learn from it. Let it become who we are as we live it, with His help and power working through us. Thank Him.
2. Ask for His cleansing of our soul that went through yesterday’s trials and dirt. Thank Him. (Ps 51:10)
3. Before facing anyone else, come into the Presence of God, looking full into His face. Come away with His Light shining on our face. Thank Him. (Matthew 6:5-13)
4. Bring all of ourselves, our joys and our concerns to the feet of Jesus while kneeling down before him. Then get up and praise Him with outstretched arms. Now THAT is a good early morning exercise! (Romans 12)
5. Cry out for wisdom, insight and understanding so that we can see others that will cross our path, through the eyes of our Lord.
6. Ask for peace and calm to wash over our soul for “this day”. Take one day at a time.
7. Be kind. Be gracious. Live a life of humble gratitude for all He has done in us and will do in the next hour. Just BE with all of Him in You and you in Him. “Be still and know…” (Ps 46:10)

“So stay alert, You have no idea when he might arrive.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us. Every hour we need you to help us keep our lamps burning. In Jesus Name and By His Power, Amen.

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THE ARRIVAL

Posted on December 31, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

It’s happened more than once to me as I prepare for “big events”. This past summer I was the teacher of students who were going to invent the “perfect” contraption to protect a raw egg as it dropped from the second story of the downtown library. I gathered all the supplies, packed my car and then double checked to make sure I had all the students would need to do this well.

As I lay in bed the night before the event, I went over the teaching lesson one more time. I mentally checked of the list of items. Then it happened! I remembered something I had completely forgotten…THE EGGS! How could I forget the eggs, the most important part of the event? It was the last thing I was going to grab because they were kept in the refrigerator!

All was saved because of my late night mental check. I got up early the next morning and went into the office to grab the most important item…the eggs. All was well. The event was awesome!

Jesus continues HIS story of the most important things to remember when He comes back again. Don’t get hung up in the small stuff of life and forget the most important! Live life knowing He’s coming back for His own! Here’s what to look for and what not to fall for when He comes…

Matthew 24, Msg

The Arrival of the Son of Man
23-25 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.

26-28 “So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!’ or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!’ don’t give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn’t something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it’s not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.

29 “Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,
moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
cosmic powers tremble.
30-31 “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

32-35 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

36 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

37-39 “The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.

39-44 “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

45-47 “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.

48-51 “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.”

Tomorrow…HOW to be ready when He comes!

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for these words that give us some idea of what to look for in your coming. Help us to live in such a way that we are ready at all times for You. Help us to stay alert, focusing on the most important–YOU! In Jesus Name, Amen

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HERE’S ANOTHER SIGN…PART TWO

Posted on December 30, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus – The Return

We sit down to watch a movie. The movie begins with someone described as nice, wonderful, full of life and has great plans for the near future. We know from our movie drama watching experience that this actor is “toast”. It is dark (always). The character in our story lies down for bed. Suddenly she/he hears a suspicious noise. Scary music signals trouble is about to happen. And what does the actor do? They typically get up and go see where the noise is coming from without thought of calling someone for help! We watchers all scream, “Don’t go there!” For we know what will happen if he/she does. Danger! Loss of life! And the story goes on from there…solving the murder and/or destruction of all that is precious.

Jesus also warns his disciples of THE Monster who will come to destroy us, setting up shop in the Temple sanctuary! We must remain alert. Another sign.

Matthew 24, Msg

The Monster of Desecration
15-20 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you’ve read Daniel, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t return to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen during the winter or on a Sabbath.

21-22 “This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.

SEE!! Even Jesus tells us to run from it, not into it like in the movies! If we do not enter into what the monster wants to do and do not become a part of this ultimate desecration, then we will be saved, “the trouble will be cut short.” IF we are God’s person. We can count on God to help us, be with us and guide us…if we listen. Run from all that is not God.

The_Monster_Under_The_Bed_by_Eli1991

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your warning and guidance to stay with what we know about You. You are God and no one else is. There is no one like You. All our trust, faith and hope is in You. When we live knowing that, Your peace washes over us. Thank you. Keep us alert! In Jesus Name, Amen

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HERE’S YOUR SIGN…

Posted on December 29, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus – The Return

We are always looking for signs for everything! We look for signs as we travel to specific locations, so we won’t miss all the turns. We look for signs of betrayal, signs of spring, signs of fall, and even signs of illness. Famous comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, made a living telling us “here’s your sign” as he entertains us with our silly questions we often ask without thinking…”

A couple of months ago I went fishing with a buddy of mine,
We pulled his boat into the dock,
I lifted up this big ‘ol stringer of bass this idiot on the dock goes,
“Hey, y’all catch all them fish?”
Nope.
“Talked ’em into giving up.”
“Here’s your sign.”

The disciples of Jesus asked for a sign. Jesus did not give them humor but seriously told them, as usual, the answer they did not consider in their finite thinking. Jesus always has answers to questions we don’t even think to ask. We are human. He is God.

Matthew 24, Msg

3 Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time’s up?”

4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.

9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.

11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

There is more if you read the rest of this account by Matthew who relates Jesus’ wisdom and teaching about His return. Let’s just consider one “bite” at a time.

Lesson for today: Stay with it. Stay the course. Stay with God as He stays with us. We will be saved. Count on it. Victory is ours. Relax, abide and get excited because of believing, knowing and living it.

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Dear Heavenly Father, You are God and we are not. We sometimes dwell on thoughts that are just plain silly without considering the much bigger picture. Help us rise above our human thinking that the world throws at us constantly and think more like you think so we will behave in ways that please you. Help us to keep walking with You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOW ‘BOUT THOSE LAKERS?

Posted on December 28, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus – Truth

As a generality, we do typically do not like confrontation. We either change the subject, run from it, avoid it, stay and deliver it or receive it. Whatever the choice, it is not pleasant or easy to hear. The Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ, who cares about God’s people and the bondage that has been placed upon them by the Pharisees, tells it like it is.

He knows their hearts better than anyone else because He is God. He knows their evil intent for selfish gain through all the man-made rules conjured for the purpose of sustaining power over the Jewish people, God’s people. He calls them frauds…aggressively and openly. He talks directly to them, not about them. Worst of all, Jesus tells them he has given up on them because of the abuse of generations of prophets who tried to tell the truth before He came down from heaven. What is it going to take? They train other leaders to be just like them, so they will get what they have always had…abusive power over God’s people. Yikes, do we do that?

The religious leaders and scholars have become the gatekeepers who have decided who gets in. Do we do that? Read all of Matthew 23 to get the full flavor of Jesus’ displeasure of these gatekeepers. Here is the last paragraph…

Matthew 23, The Message

37-39 “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Murderer of prophets! Killer of the ones who brought you God’s news! How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me. And now you’re so desolate, nothing but a ghost town. What is there left to say? Only this: I’m out of here soon. The next time you see me you’ll say, ‘Oh, God has blessed him! He’s come, bringing God’s rule!’”

THE DISCIPLES RESPONSE…HOW ‘BOUT THOSE LAKERS?

We have a family joke about changing the subject away from unpleasant confrontation or conversations that might lead to extreme disagreement. I’m not sure who started it, but when we say “how ’bout those Lakers”, it is a cue to change the subject. I am amused by the disciples’ similar response just after Jesus’ compassionate Truth-telling…

Matthew 24, The Message

24 1-2 Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, “You’re not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there’s not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble.”

So, how ’bout this temple, Jesus? Isn’t it impressive? But Jesus did not buy in to changing the subject. Jesus is Truth. We may want Him to go easy on us. But He cannot. He knows what is best for us. We should not change the subject, we should concentrate on changing us. We will have His help in the transformation.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Wow, You came to earth and told the leaders directly what is not of You and what is not best for Your people! Oh Father, keep us from causing any kind of harm to those who want to know You. We do not want to be the gatekeepers who hinder those who seek You. Help us to welcome with all with open hearts and arms of love! Help us to see them from a distance like the father of the prodigal son and open the gate and then run to meet them where they are! Yes, point out any wicked way in us, cleanse us, then give us Your power to change and mature to be all You intended for us to be and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WANT TO STAND OUT? THEN STEP DOWN!

Posted on December 27, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

“I want to be just like you!” Have you ever heard that said to you or watched a young person you are mentoring or counseling begin to look to you for answers to their problems? DANGER ALERT! We never want someone to look to us or be like us! We are human. Our work is to point them to Jesus, the Savior, the PERFECT example of what to think, how to behave and, above all, how to love…unconditionally. HE has their answers to their life’s questions.

Jesus, the Christ, taught us and still teaches us how to love God and love others. (Check our yesterday’s lesson.) Today it is clear whom we should follow. After Jesus has gone several rounds with the Pharisees and Sadducees, he gives this impeccable, life-saving advice to his disciples as a follow up to why he said what he said to the religious leaders of that day. Jesus, the Master Teacher, always gives explanation after the lesson. Good method for parents and grandparents, teachers and well, everyone!

Matthew 23, The Message

Religious Fashion Shows
23 1-3 Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following THEM. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer.

4-7 “Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’

8-10 “Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.

11-12 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Be who God intended you to be and do. –Simply Jesus

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Dear Heavenly Father, This is very relevant for today. We like for people to follow us and we like to follow other people…but we see the danger in doing that. Help us to stay alert. Help us to not do this to our leaders over us, always depending on them for the answers when we should be mature enough and well read in Your Word to find You and the answers from You that we need. Continue to teach us, Lord. Your servant is listening.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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