BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES!

Posted on December 19, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

As we ready ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Lord who brings eternal life for us, we are overcome with the next passage of our reading of Matthew. Jesus gets a royal welcome as he rides the new colt (as prophesied many years before the event) into Jerusalem. People are shouting “Hosanna to David’s son!” But where is that affirmation and praise when He is attacked, beaten and nailed to a cross? You see, the crowd is fickle. They are only impressed by Jesus the Christ but He apparently is not their Lord. “The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”

What parade crowd are we following? Who do we say this God/man is? Are we merely impressed with Jesus as a prophet, a teacher and Son of David? Is He our Savior and Redeemer of our lives? He is not only Savior, He is the King of kings and Lord of lords! That’s truth whether we believe it and live this Truth or not. Too many of us, Jesus is Savior, but is He our Lord, the ruler of our lives?

Matthew 21 The Message (MSG)

The Royal Welcome
21 1-3 When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You’ll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you’re doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!’ He will send them with you.”

4-5 This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet:

Tell Zion’s daughter,
“Look, your king’s on his way,
poised and ready, mounted
On a donkey, on a colt,
foal of a pack animal.”

6-9 The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!”

10 As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?”

11 The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Dear Heavenly Father,
May the whole world be unnerved and shaken with the Truth as we celebrate the coming of the Lord of lords into our lives this Christmas! May Truth be royally welcomed in our hearts, minds and souls that others would be drawn to Him. Jesus Christ our Lord. I am overwhelmed. In Jesus Name, Amen.

And I’m singing…

Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave (with lyrics)
VIDEO.SEARCH.YAHOO.COM
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A PASSIONATE TOUCH

Posted on December 18, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

There are times in our lives that there is so much going on, so much to do in a short amount of time, that our minds, spirits, bodies, and hearts are taxed and sometimes overwhelmed by it all. Then someone needs help. Just one more person needs a hug. Or a child looks at you, with pleading eyes for you to stop the progress you are making on your “to do list”, and just be with them. One more touch, one passionate touch is all it takes. Priorities are rearranged and that one more touch is given. Mercy given. Healing mercy received. It moves us to respond that way as believers because God created us to BE that way. Jesus…is our perfect example of this as we read today.

Matthew 20, Msg

29-31 As they were leaving Jericho, a huge crowd followed. Suddenly they came upon two blind men sitting alongside the road. When they heard it was Jesus passing, they cried out, “Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!” The crowd tried to hush them up, but they got all the louder, crying, “Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!”

32 Jesus stopped and called over, “What do you want from me?”

33 They said, “Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!”

34 Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession.

Blind eyes opened by our deeply moved Savior who stopped and extended that passionate touch. Did our Lord have a lot on His mind? YES! He traveling to Jerusalem where He knows much will happen that will affect His followers, yet He stops, another time to extend mercy to a couple of blind men. There hearts were opened as well as their eyes. They followed their Healer.

I am stopped by Jesus question, “What do you want from me?” I am meditating on that question today as I pray, wondering if Jesus is asking the same question of us…”what do you really want from me?” Can you stop your busyness long enough, says Jesus, to evaluate your busyness and just be with me, as I AM with you?

There are two other words that leap from the page as well…”deeply moved”. Do we think Jesus does not care about our every detail on this brief journey here on earth? Well, He does and He is deeply moved. He shows us His love, mercy and grace every day as we lay down our agendas and pick up His unforced rhythms of living.

Think about it. Take a deep breathe. Rejoice in Jesus the Christ being deeply moved by all that is going on in Your life right now and accept His passionate touch of mercy that opens our eyes that are blinded, at times by our “to do lists”. He loves You. He really loves You.

Gods Rescue

Dear Heavenly Father, You are a personal Savior who rescues us before we even know we need it. Yes, You are God and we are not. We praise You and lean into Your way of thinking and behaving that brings peace and joy to our lives, no matter what the circumstances happen to be. Thank you for your passionate touch today! In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THE CUP

Posted on December 17, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

I was asked this question many times by young adults while serving as director of youth and family ministries for a denomination years ago, “How did you get this job? What do I have to do to be who and where you are?” The first time I was seriously asked this question, it made me stop and think about how that happened. I took these questions to heart, stepped back a little to evaluate the path God took me to end where I was at that time. I remember beginning with I served as a volunteer for over twenty years in youth ministry of some nature, served my church as a teacher and leader, sought God will daily and loved to learn. Basically, I served. I did not “go after this job”, I was merely asked to serve again in a different way and place. I would end with, “So, do you want to serve?” “How is your serve now?”

I am glad for those questions by young adults because maybe that meant I was making my particular ministry job look enjoyable enough for them to do it, too. What they did not see was all the hours of “down on my knees” praying, stepping out of the box and getting hammered with criticism by well meaning churchies, and spending hours away from family on the road to helping others know Christ more and how to teach like He teaches us…with passion, unconditional love, mercy and grace for His students. I made mistakes, but I repented and kept following the Master Teacher with all that was within me. I loved to serve Him by serving others.

Where did I get those responses? From this story. From the story of Jesus telling/teaching His disciples, “I came to serve”.

Are we willing to drink from the cup of Jesus? Your answer matters.

To Drink from the Cup – Matthew 20, Msg

17-19 Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, “Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive.”

20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request.

21 “What do you want?” Jesus asked.

She said, “Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand.”

22 Jesus responded, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the cup that I’m about to drink?”

They said, “Sure, why not?”

23 Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. My Father is taking care of that.”

24-28 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”

Are we willing to drink from the cup of Jesus? Your answer matters when it comes to the motive of why you serve.

communion_elements

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word takes me back a bit in time to another place of serving that brings me forward to where I serve You now. Your Word, full of reminders of who we are in You is amazing, convicting, challenging and refreshing for our souls. Thank you for Your Word that breathes life to us. We love you. We serve You with gladness and thanksgiving. Keep moving us on to be closer to You, serving in Your Name. We accept the cup. To You be all glory, honor and praise! In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THE GREAT REVERSAL…PART TWO

Posted on December 16, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Jesus makes us go deeper still in his upside-down kingdom thinking and behaving by telling his followers another story about the great reversal. He knew his disciples needed more to really get what the “first shall be last and the last shall be first” means and how that is significant to living our lives with humble attitudes that are grateful for what HE decides we need most in this life.

Life is not fair. First of all, get over that. Kids on the playground yell out “that’s not fair”…when they are losing the game. What game are we playing?

Matthew 20, Msg

A Story About Workers

20 1-2 “God’s kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.

3-5 “Later, about nine o’clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went.

5-6 “He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o’clock. At five o’clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’

7 “They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“He told them to go to work in his vineyard.

8 “When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’

9-12 “Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’

13-15 “He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’

16 “Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”

When we think as the world thinks we are jealous of even our Christian brothers and sisters who seem to have more than we have. Our “that’s not fair, we worked hard all these years” thinking has wrong motives. The why of our work got lost somewhere in busyness of doing the work. We wonder what it takes to be that “blessed”?

What can we do more of to be that blessed? Wrong thinking. Maybe we just need to be. Be grateful for what God is doing and will do in your life because of who you are to Him and where He has placed you for this poignant time on your journey. Look for what He is teaching you in the process of maturing you to be all that He knew from the beginning of time that you would be. To God be the glory! He does know what is best for us!

Can I be so bold to say that God doesn’t call us to produce the biggest church ever but he REQUIRES us to live as Micah 6:8 (Msg) states:

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.

1013804_688753794515318_3186947275900863172_n

Dear Heavenly Father, Sometimes we claim we don’t understand your word to us because we don’t want to go deeper and live out what your teaching us to live. We repent of whining about how unfair life is. We are grateful for what You are doing in and through us. To You be all glory, honor and praise! Thank you for being with us…Emmanuel. Thank you for giving us more than we deserve. Help us to give more like you give. May we live gracious, humble lives with love for You and others. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THE GREAT REVERSAL

Posted on December 15, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

There is even more to following Jesus and His teachings than we can wrap our minds around. Yes, He brings peace and joy to our lives along with salvation for our souls, but can we do even deeper with His “giving up to gain” way of thinking? Jesus takes his disciples deeper by explaining his upside down, laying your own interests aside, kingdom thinking. This is the story of the Great Reversal…from worldly to Kingdom thinking and behaving. Go deeper still…

Matthew 19, Msg

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.

16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”

18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?”

Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

21 “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”

22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

23-24 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”

25 The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”

26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

27 Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”

28-30 Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”

7577_561221014005000_5069987892029102094_n

Dear Heavenly Father, The world fights to be first in line everywhere we go. But You are asking us to move to last position with You in front and move through this life in your holy, unforced rhythms of grace once again. Thank you for this reminder. Help us to walk this day in ways that please you. Bring peace to our hearts with our minds fixed on You. We are listening, Lord. We are listening.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

JESUS SPEAKS TRUTH…ABOUT DIVORCE

Posted on December 14, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

I remember my pastor husband coming home for a premarital counseling session to say, “I don’t think they are going to make it with the attitude they have about marriage.” He related that the couple agreed that “if it doesn’t work out, we will move on”. Wow! They are already making plans for bugging out!

Matthew Henry comments on Mark 10:9 that states, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

“Wherever Jesus was, the people flocked after him in crowds, and he taught them. Preaching was Christ’s constant practice. He here shows that the reason why Moses’ law allowed divorce, was such that they ought not to use the permission; it was only for the hardness of their hearts. God himself joined man and wife together; he has fitted them to be comforts and helps for each other. The bond which God has tied, is not to be lightly untied. Let those who are for putting away their wives consider what would become of themselves, if God should deal with them in like manner.”
–Matthew Henry

That includes our own idea of each other. Let NO ONE separate us. Be alert to all that would enter into your marriage with desires to end it. In and out of the church the statistics are the same! Over half the marriages in the United States end in divorce. Why? Because there are those praying that all pastor’s families would be destroyed so that the work of Jesus Christ would be hindered and even stopped. It is known that satanists “pray” for this would to happen. If the pastor’s marriage falls apart, then so goes the church, they hope. Think about it.

Matthew 19, Msg Jesus speaks truth:

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?”

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.”

cropped-dsc_99842.jpg

Dear Heavenly Father, You were badgered with this question of marriage and divorce in order for the religious of the day to trap you in their laws of convenience and power broking. May we see and live Truth as You see it and teach it. Help us to be alert and watchful as we cherish our marriage, “growing into the largeness of marriage.” Give us wisdom, insight and understanding.
In Jesus Name and by His Power working in us, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A STORY ABOUT FORGIVENESS

Posted on December 13, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus…Matthew 18, Msg

21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother orsister 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.”

1013804_688753794515318_3186947275900863172_n

Dear Heavenly Father, We are not as good at this as You are. We read and understand these words perfectly. We get it. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit’s power and strength to continually, over seventy times seven, to DO IT. May we live a life of forgiveness that forgives. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THE HARD STUFF OF LOVING RELATIONSHIP

Posted on December 12, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

“If a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often done merely upon report, but to go to the offender privately, state the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. This would generally have all the desired effect with a true Christian, and the parties would be reconciled. The principles of these rules may be practiced every where, and under all circumstances, though they are too much neglected by all.

But how few try the method which Christ has expressly enjoined to all his disciples! In all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer; we cannot too highly prize the promises of God. Wherever and whenever we meet in the name of Christ, we should consider him as present in the midst of us.” –Matthew Henry’s Commentary

This passage of going after a lost brother or sister is quickly followed by the making it right with our friends in an open, sincere, loving way. Where love is, because of Christ, HE will be there with us!

Matthew 18, Msg

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.”

7577_561221014005000_5069987892029102094_n

“MAKE A PRAYER OF IT!”
Yes, talk to God first. Then talk to your brother or sister, fellow believers, who have hurt you. Seek peace. It will cost us our pride but what is that really and where does pride get us? Instead our goal is to gain complete restoration of a relationship! So, going after fellow believers, is just as much about the maturity in us as in them. Mm

Dear Heavenly Father, You continue to teach us the “how” along with the “should” for our own good. If we want a great, loving relationship with You, then we must, at all costs to ourselves, have a sincere, loving, restorative relationship with others. Thank you for teaching us. We repent of not relating Your way. Help us to think and behave more like You. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HOW DO WE RANK?

Posted on December 11, 2014 by randscallawayffm

HOW DO WE RANK?.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

HOW DO WE RANK?

Posted on December 11, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

In this “dog eat dog” world of grasping for higher position and ranking at work, sometimes church and even volunteer clubs and agencies, what Jesus is about to teach us this morning is counter-culture, simple, and revolutionary! There is no ranking of greatest to least in the eyes of God! How refreshing! How “not of this world” is this thinking!

Matthew 18, Msg
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?

This is real, heart to heart, teaching from Jesus to his human disciples who are used to Roman oppression in their own lives. They see a way out, in their eyes, of this oppressive leadership who pulls rank over their people frequently. Along comes Jesus who commands an “upside-down kingdom” way of thinking…for all of us.

Jesus came as a leader who works from the bottom up. The world works from the top down, in other words. Jesus admonishes his followers, in a way, by telling them if you want to rank as the greatest, you must become the least. You must come, ready to serve. Lay down the attitude of expecting to be served.

We also are cautioned not to pull rank on new believers as we come alongside them, helping them as we were helped when we were new to the faith. Be careful that we don’t lift ourselves up to being “greater than” because that, in itself, causes others to feel “less than” when under our care in a discipleship relationship. We are equal, completely equal in the eyes of our Lord.

We are to grow from childish expression of being merely impressed with Jesus to a childlike faith that is simple, growing, with full trust in our Lord.

Mm, these are the simple thoughts over today’s passage. The question that we must ask ourselves, “How do I rank?” Am I seeking position or ways to serve my fellow coworkers, family members, friends and even my enemies? How do I rank?

1013804_688753794515318_3186947275900863172_n

Dear Heavenly Father, We get so full of ourselves that we lose You! We repent of seeking position and rank and lean heavily into your thinking, your ways so that we will behave more graciously, full of mercy and unconditional love…like you love us. In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment