I'm Just Sayin by Alan P. Scaglione

“Jett chooses Percy over Thomas the Train-

                 “I’m Just Sayin’”                                  by Alan P. Scaglione

“You like me! You Really Like ME!”

Quick! Who said that?

Better yet—who was watching it on TV when she said it?

For those of us oldie but goodies…it was Sally Field when she won her first Oscar!

She displayed what we all feel…we all want to be picked…we all want to be wanted, we all want to be favored!

I got a call from my son the other day.

He said, “Pops! It’s official! You are Jett’s favorite person!”

I was surprised, startled and yet…had a grin from ear to ear.

I asked him what made him say that?

He explained that he had gone through a list of everyone in Jett’s life and asked him who he liked better?

“Nano or this person?” Jett said “Nano!”

 “Nano or that person?” Again—“Nano!”

My son said, “And he even picked you over Mommy and Daddy!”

Jett likes me, he really likes me!

I tried to laugh it off, but…man, that just made my day!

Jett favored me! Over all of the other grandparents in his life, aunts and uncles, even cousins…Jett chose me!

We all want to be chosen above the others—to know, in the midst of choices, they would still pick you first!

Then I read my daily devotional today, and I went “Wow! Even God wants to be picked first!”

I read the passage in Matthew 16:13-18 where Jesus asks the disciples “who do men say that I am?”

They responded: Elijah or one of the prophets.

Then Jesus asked the question that He still asks today—“Whom say ye?”

Who do YOU think that I am???

Then… My favorite new testament hero pipes up, without hesitation.

Simon Peter says, “Thou art the Christ!”

Jesus was pleased!

He told Peter “Blessed art thou Peter—and upon this rock will I build my kingdom and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!”

The rock was NOT Peter—that rock was the recognition that HE is the CHRIST!

Of all the other “gods” out there—He wants to know—“who do you say that I am?”

It’s funny—it reminded me of a sermon I used to preach to my youth group.

“Is He your bratty brother or your Best Buddy?”

Do we ask Him to go with us wherever we go, or do we begrudgingly let Him tag along as long as He doesn’t say a word?

Is He just our medicine bottle God that we only pull out when we need a physical healing or…

Is He the lover of my soul, the lily of the valley, the rose of Sharon, the strong and mighty tower?

Do we choose Him over all the other possible choices in our lives?

Choices like…our job, our toys, our friends, our family?

When we prioritize all of these things in our life—where does He fall?

I grew up with a saying “If HE isn’t Lord of All—He isn’t Lord AT all!”

So…what If?

What If God was needing to know…”if you had to choose a team, would you pick Him first?”

Anybody remember recess? They always had two captains pick their teams.

I was never the first pick. I was often the last pick. I know the feeling of being picked last. It does NOT feel very good.

I would never want Jesus to feel like He was last on my list.

But…I have to ask myself…how many times is HE first?

That grin that I could NOT wipe off when my son told me that I was FIRST on Jett’s list!

That sense of “You like me, you REALLY like me!”

How often do we make God grin ear to ear?

How often is He our first pick?

Of all the choices in your life…

Is He your Favorite?

Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”