Year: 2015

Good Work

Dr. Mike Business & Faith
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

good works1

What does Good Work look like for you?

If you are a father or mother, what does good work look for you in that role?
If you are a minister or an executive, what does good work look like for you?
If you are an accountant or an electrician, what does good work look like for you?

Whatever your calling, whatever your role, whatever you profession, what does good work look like for you?

Paul writes in Ephesians that we are Jesus’ creative masterpiece for the purpose of doing good work. That we are characters within his narrative of life and fill the pages of his story with good work. That the productive work we do has been pre-planned. You are simply following through on what you have been called to do.

You may still be in the preparation stage of the main theme of God’s plan. Or you may be completing the most adventurous journey in the workplace that a person could experience in this life. Either way, you are His workmanship gracefully cultivated to fulfill His purpose for your sake and for the sake of others.

The question remains what kind of work are you going to do? Are you going to give it your best and do good work? Or are we going to fight, argue, and criticize everyone because you don’t like what you are currently doing? Are you going to make your Heavenly Father pleased with your service to the heavenly Family business or disappoint yourself and the angels who are rooting for you?
When we take the gifts, talents, and abilities He placed within our DNA and wholeheartedly share that with others, we are performing good works.

The Bible gives much insight into the good works we are called to do. Everything from caring for the poor and alien, to the quality of service and products we exchange for the benefit of others. Everything we do that is within His Will is good and beneficial for humanity. God wired us to do good work. Here are some Scriptures to ponder:

“From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.” Proverbs 12:14

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt 5:16

“They (the rich) are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,…” 1 Timothy 6:18.

“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” Titus 3:8

There are many others that you may enjoy studying. Just realize that you were physically born and newly created in Jesus Christ for good work. If you are having trouble discovering what work God has called you for, spend time with Him in prayer. He will lead you to the people or to the place where you will have the opportunity to glorify Him through the good work you were pre-wired to fulfill. For when you find yourself there, than you will realize how much involved he is in your life and continue to praise Him, and praise Him, and praise Him.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Making Church Relevant

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 ESV

relevance 1

One of the biggest obstacles facing traditional churches is making themselves relevant in today’s world. It is a known fact that the educational institutes have contributed strongly toward including Christianity with other religions teaching the irrelevancy of faith. Yet when the message of Jesus is fully convene, understood, and accepted, everyday life becomes full of meaning and purpose. One then slowly learns how Jesus Christ is the answer to the problems facing couples, parents, executives, and politicians.

So how can churches make themselves more relevant?

What if we begin by explaining the difference between a Christ-follower and a Jesus fan? Then maybe, we can discuss the difference of living a Jesus-centered life versus a Jesus-principled life. But more importantly, what if we expounded the Christian mystery as Paul writes in the letter of Colossians’ that God lives in you. That the reason Paul preached weakness, self-denial, and joy in suffering, is to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to fully express Himself in and through you.

What if we had more mentoring relationships where marketplace disciples become better equipped with integrating the struggle of performance with grace-filled outcomes?

What if we did a better job of emphasizing our relationship with God and less about the religion of performance?

What if we aligned our preaching with our teaching? (Ever notice how some ministers preach relationship but teach religion).

What if the Church was more inclusive and less divisive?

What if the Church was more active to demonstrate God’s love in the community?

What if the church stopped preaching formulas for success and invested more time comforting the downcast?

What if the Church invested more time praying and less time planning?

What if the Church did a better job demonstrating how a grace-filled, life-giving life compares to a non Christ-centered life?

Whatever the solution, change is required. We can’t expect to continue doing the same thing and get different results? Or can we?

PS: I would love to hear what you believe needs added to the list.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

The Real Blessed Life

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV

blessed 8

What is the blessed life? There are those who say that being wealthy, healthy, and wise makes a blessed life. Other say it’s more than these three amigos.

In the same concept, is the blessed life something we cause to happen? Or simply a response for something that has happened to us? Who is our model for the blessed life?

Whenever this discussion arises, I like to point toward examples of the blessed life by the people found in Scripture. The best example, of course, is Jesus Christ.

Can we say if there is any one person that walked on the earth who exemplified the blessed life, wouldn’t it be him? God in the flesh. The Author and Maker of the Blessed Life. Yet for many of us, he may be a stumbling block of what the blessed life truly looks like.

As a carpenter prior to his public ministry, there is no record that he became wealthy. In fact, during his ministry he depended on the support of women. It would be safe to say that He was not a self-made billionaire.

During His ministry, his family thought Him to be crazy. His religious peers saw him a radical. He was betrayed by a friend. His students with the exception of John deserted him at his trial. He was condemned by the government as a traitor. He was buried in another person’s grave. Does this look like a person who lived the blessed life?

Often times we have a limited view of the truth. Seeing only a portion of reality, we erroneously build an entire doctrine around it. This is what happens in the narrative of the American Blessed Life. If you expounded this version of the gospel to your brothers and sisters in the Middle East or Africa, would they recognize it? Sorry, but they would wonder what you have been smoking.

The real blessed life is simply our response to the love of God. To know God and to be known by God places one in the center of an awesome life. As our relationship develops with the Triune God, we begin to experience His divine blessings. He is the great cause of everything that is good. We are simply the recipient of His goodness. And like Jesus who was blessed by His Father for good works, we likewise response to God’s love by living a sacrificial life for the sake of others.

We are not the initiator of the blessed life. God is. We simply respond to His love, truth, and grace. Our response glorifies Him, uplifts others, and allows us to experience the fruit of His divine nature. The measurement is not wealth, health, or wisdom. The real measurement of a blessed life is the character and attributes of the divine life flowing through you. This relationship with the Triune God and the process of walking with Him is the real blessed life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!