Sometimes in a church service a phone will ring. I try to not embarrass the perpetrator, so I’ll say something like, “Is that call for me?”

Speaking of calls, there are many recorded in Scripture and they are literally for me. Here are some, and I don’t mind you listening in.

What we are called to:

I. Called from labor to rest (Matthew 11:28: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.)

II. Called from death to life (1 John 3:14: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.)

III. Called from bondage to liberty (Galatians 5:13: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.)

IV. Called out of darkness into light (1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;)

V. Called from bondage to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15: But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.)

VI. Called to the fellowship of His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.)

Pick that up and answer that call.

Gary

The High Priest of the Old Testament sure was a busy fellow, leading the congregation of Israel and offering the appropriate sacrifice. However, he could never build an individual relationship and, for the most part, didn’t care to. Thankfully, the New Testament High Priest gets to know us intimately.

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let me introduce Him to you:

John 15:13 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

He understands me, is never too busy, and gave His life for me and for you. Give it some thought.

Gary

She said, “We’re going to have a happy Thanksgiving for the family this year. I’m going to stuff the turkey with cannabis.”

Now that is one way to do it, but I don’t promote it. The Bible talks of a happiness that comes through God’s Word and is eternal.

Psalm 144:15

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

Proverbs 3:13

Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. 

Put that in your pipe and smoke it. (Not really) Give it some thought.

Gary

The woman said, “It wouldn’t be a holiday without the turkey, a fruitcake and the nuts. But enough about our relatives.”

I thought it was funny. It reminded me of the church on Crete. Look at this and you’ll agree.

Titus 1:10-12,16

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Paul told Titus the situation needed fixing. Does your church need fixing? It could start with you.

Gary

In Deuteronomy 26, God required of the nation of Israel that they bring their first fruits to Him. It was a reminder of what God had done for them in their history and intended to bring about a realization, once more, that He continued to provide their every need. These offerings were to start when they entered the land of promise.

Bring it from their town to ours, we also need to recognize that what we have comes from His hand. Now if God hasn’t done anything for you, then don’t give anything back. He certainly doesn’t need anything you have, anyway. However, if He is your God, then be giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Luke 6:38 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Sometimes we hear this on the radio, “This is just a test.”

Give it some consideration.

Gary

An ad appeared in a newspaper that read: “Farmer wants to marry woman, 35, with tractor. Send picture of tractor.”

Some people really don’t understand the basic principle surrounding marriage. In the Bible, “help meet” (or “helpmate”) is a translation of the Hebrew phrase ‘ezer kenegdo from Genesis 2:18, which means a “helper suitable for him” or “a suitable helper.”  Eve was exactly what Adam needed. They say opposites attract, well if that is God’s plan, let it be. Before us, lies the decision to choose our plan or God’s.

Men like this verse.

Ephesians 5:22

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Women like this verse.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

If you don’t want a dear one, get a John Deere tractor, or you might end up with a dear John letter.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926), former president of Harvard University, had a birthmark on his face that bothered him greatly. As a young man, he was told that surgeons could do nothing to remove it. Someone described that moment as “the dark hour of his soul.”  Eliot’s mother gave him this helpful advice: “My son, it is not possible for you to get rid of that hardship…But it is possible for you, with God’s help, to grow a mind and soul so big that people will forget to look at your face.”

Most look at the external, but thank God, there are good number of people that look past that to what really makes a person. Those individuals have been placed here to accept us for what we are and not what we look like. According to Scripture, Jesus wasn’t much to look at.

Isaiah 53:2

For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him.

That’s how I saw Him until He revealed to me exactly who He was. How does He look to you? Give it some thought.

Gary