Tag: jesus

“If yuh fallah people…”

On By justlivingthethingLeave a comment

“If yuh fallah (follow) people…” my mom would often say in strongly accented Jamaican Patios with all its passion and intonations, while rolling her eyes  in disgust. 

“If yuh fallah people… yuh spen’ money yuh nuh (don’t) have!”

“If yuh fallah people… yuh lose yuh salvation!”

Not too sure about her theology on that one but nothing good usually came after “If yuh fallah people…”   Somebody following these “people” was going to end badly!

It feels like we all have family members or friends who have walked away from following Jesus, His teachings and His Kingdom. I’m not talking about those who choose to go their own way when The Way no longer suits what they want out of life.  I am talking about those who have been mis-led, deceived and often deeply wounded by “fallah-ing” people whom they thought were following Jesus.

Believe me, Jesus knows those people; the weeds growing with the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), the wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-20), the ones about whom He warned:

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

He also warned us that as the time for His return gets closer deception would increase exponentially! 

Jesus told them (His disciples), “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. (Mattew 24:4-5)

Many will come claiming to carry His anointing, and to follow His teachings, and “if yuh fallah people…”   the deceived, deceptive, immoral, manipulative,abusive, self-serving, building-their-own-kingdom, narcissistic liars, they could literally blowup your faith and destroy your relationship with Jesus.

So, what protects the sheep from the wolves?

Follow Jesus! Not people! The call to His first followers turned disciples remains unchanged across the centuries, “Come, follow ME!” Not churches, not spiritual leaders, not anybody!

We have ONE Good Shepherd.  Everybody else, especially those in positions of influence or leadership work for HIM!  The minute they stop following Him, we must stop walking with them!

We, individually and personally must “take His yoke” – His entire body of teachings, and learn, for ourselves– let the Holy Spirit teach us (Matthew 11:29-30). As we invest in learning and obeying the truth of His Word and praying – staying in continual communication – we will be able to accurately discern – ‘suss out’ the seductions, deceptions and outright lies.

…let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith… (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)

FOLLOW JESUS my friends, because “If yuh fallah people…”

Eagerly Awaiting

On By justlivingthethingLeave a comment

Last December I had some friends over for dinner and because it was the first day of Advent I asked one of my guests if he would do a short devotional for us between dinner and dessert.  What he shared about Simeon was so compelling, it made me want to delve deeper and get all up in this man’s “bizniz”!

Simeon is a relatively minor figure in the narrative of Jesus’ birth, but he was deeply devoted, righteous, expectant, Holy Spirit-led, and a prophet without fear or favor.   However, contrary to common belief, what he may NOT have been, was old and about to die.

Scripture describes him as devout, living right with God, and eagerly looking for the promised Messiah despite 400 years of prophetic silence.

“It had been revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.”  Luke 2:26

He followed the Holy Spirit’s lead to go to the temple that day when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to be dedicated to the Lord.

“Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised, For my eyes have seen your salvation.” Luke 2:29-30

At first glance it might seem from the text that Simeon was saying, “I’m old and content to die now.” The promise that he would live to see the Messiah had been fulfilled. 

But what if, as my friend shared and many scholars believe, Simeon was not talking about dying at all but about the fulfillment of his deepest desire, his steadfast, unshakeable hope, and his greatest joy – to see with his own eyes the One who would bring God’s salvation to the whole world.

Nothing Simeon would experience or accomplish for the rest of his life could compare to seeing God’s Word literally come alive. The Holy Spirit’s revelation had become his life’s mission. He knew exactly Who this baby was and what He would do, so Simeon began to prophesy!

“He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!… This Child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him.  As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will place your very soul.” Luke 2:32,34-35.

Poor Mary, but that’s a story for another day!

Hundreds of years passed yet Simeon was still eagerly awaiting the arrival of Messiah because he believed God. Obedience led him to exactly the right place and time to see the promise fulfilled.

Thousands of years later, are we just as eagerly awaiting the second arrival of Jesus, in all His power and glory?  I pray He finds us living like Simeon, righteous and ready!

“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”  Revelation 22:20

“Spiritual Nimbility!”

On By justlivingthething1 Comment

A tiny giggle slipped out as I whispered to my daughter, “Is that even a word?”

It was Christmas time, and I was visiting her and my son-in-law on the island of Guam.  The pastor of the church went on to share a message about living spiritually nimble or agile lives using Mary, Joseph and the wise men as examples.  Here is my condensed version of his message:

Mary’s life was going great!  She was engaged to a good man and looking forward to her wedding.  Everybody in the village would show up to this joyous social event until… the angel’s message about her coming pregnancy blew up that dream and put her in real danger of being stoned to death. Her response was remarkable, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May everything you have said about me come true…” Luke 1:38. Spiritually agile.

How Joseph must have struggled with the legal, moral, personal and societal implications of Mary’s pregnancy.  What was he to do? He did not want her killed but obviously, he could not marry her now, except the angel’s message from God was he was to do exactly that. Spiritually agile! 

Finally! The baby boy was born in Bethlehem where they had traveled for the Roman census. A bunch of shepherds came by the stable with an amazing report of angelic visitation and left rejoicing, and telling everybody what had happened!

The little family settled into life until… ‘wise men from the East’ arrived with what scholars believe would have been a large company of people including their private army.  Another message from God quickly followed, “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother…” Matthew 2:13. They left that night.  Spiritually agile!

The star the wise men had followed had led them to the King of the Jews where they had worshipped and delivered their highly symbolic and expensive gifts. Surely their GPS directions would take them back the way they came. They had promised to bring word back to Herod until… the angelic messenger was clear; they were to find another way home.  Spiritually agile!

How do we live spiritually agile lives in a world which seems determined to tie us down to things, places and people? Are we able or willing to pivot on command? To be spiritually agile?

It is fitting there were so many military personnel in church that Christmas in Guam. Their lives and service are marked by “agility”, lived with the awareness that they could be ordered anywhere at any time. Their example is inspiration and aspiration.

As followers of Jesus, we too are in service… to the Lord God of Heaven’s armies. 

“…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has sent before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…”  Hebrews 12:1-2