Author: Dr. Mike

Underestimating Jesus

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  I John 4:4


 

What are some ways we may limit Jesus in our lives?

The other day I spent some time with an associate struggling with a whole set of issues. He is a 21st century Biblical Job. Just like Job lost everything important to him, so has he.

His health is battered. He is battling addiction from pharmaceutical drugs. He is financially broke and unemployed. He struggles against strong demonic influences. His family is ready to commit him into a mental ward.

He questions his belief in God. He holds HIM responsible for his poor condition. Yet his prayers are deeply sincere asking God for help and direction.

He has been a faithful Christian his entire life. But now wonders why God has abandon HIM. He has lost all hope and meaning for his life. Every hiccup, muscle sprain, and one less hour of sleep each night brings him into the mindset his days are short.

He is crying out for help but at the same time wallowing in a victim mindset. As I listen to him, my heart hurts. I pray along with him asking for wisdom in the situation. My focus is trying to see what the Holy Spirit is doing. How can I best participate with our Lord in this situation. For now, I only sit and listen. I ask questions trying to help him see things more clearly. God is the cure-giver, not I. For we both will learn patience waiting on HIM.

It is times like this we discover how strong our faith in Jesus actually is. Is HE bigger than any problem we are dealing with? Do I really have a strong relationship with HIM or is HE just someone I know? Have I been true and supportive of HIM my entire life? Or have I just played church with HIM? Does HE really have last say on this matter? Can HE be trusted?

Is HE really the solution for my problems or the cause? Isn’t HE supposed to protect me from harm? From my stupid choices? Does HE practice safe-zone behavior or will HE allow the situation to enter the high-risk area?

Why am I truly following him anyway? These are only a few of the questions that may arise when we struggle with life’s darkest moments.

When Jesus is your central-core of living, bad things are still going to happen. The difference being HE is always with you. HE will lead you through the mess. In the process, you will learn to better govern yourself and others. His purpose is not to make you happy and successful in this life. HE wants to prepare you for eternity to rule with HIM serving others. Everything we go through in this life trains us to know HIM better. To enjoy life with HIM in greater degrees, and prepare us for greater service of others.

We can choose to limit Jesus or allow HIM access to lead us with HIM as HE navigates us through the jungles of life. We can let HIM live in us and through us or just reside. As we allow HIM to live HIS life through us, HE accomplishes HIS macro-plans. We also achieve our micro-ones. Everything else are the small details that we deal with along the way.

Walking with HIM doesn’t eliminate the problems. But helps us focus on the solutions. We limit Jesus when we don’t allow HIM to live in us and through us. One step at a time. One day at a time. One person at a time. For HE is always with us. You especially notice when family, friends, and community surround you with HIS love and care in your darkest moments. Yes, HE is always with you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Upside-Down World

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , , , , ,

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, Acts 17:6

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You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?   Isaiah 29:16

We live in an upside-down world and consider this normal. We accept the status quo. This is the way it is. Yet deep down inside each person is longing for something better. There is more than the media, education, and government influencers broadcast before us. But the culture has us trapped within its power. We play along. At the end of the day, we are tired, bored, and unfulfilled. But we arise the next day and parade through the same game. We are trapped within society’s minefield. We want out, but where does one go? Who does one believe? Which road produces a life worth living?

God created a world of beauty and order. Everything has a place and purpose. As science uncovers the intrinsic workings of the universe, a Master Designer emerges. Yet humanity is not happy with how things operate. Instead of aligning themselves with the Master Creator, they search for something else. In such a vacuum, today’s ungodly influencers take the place of our Creator. They establish culture’s norms.

For example, they say you are racist. Their solution: be more racist.

They say you are not to judge. Their solution: allow criminal actions go unpunished.

They say everything is stacked against you. Their solution: let the government take care of you.

They say the world is coming to an end due in a global crisis. You can fill in the latest fear mongering, one-sided projected forecast. In my lifetime it has included nuclear fallout, over-population, and climate change. Their solution: give them more money and attention. Then surrender your lives over to them to help solve the problem/cause.

They say women rights are more important than life. Their solution: abort the unborn human so their rights are protected.

They say there are more than two genders. Their solution: pass laws to force their beliefs upon you.

They say marriage and family is old school. Their solution: do whatever feels personally pleasurable without concern for the children.

The list is endless.

When God is removed from the equation, the world evolves toward the darkness of life. What is evil becomes good. What is harmful becomes acceptable. What is beautiful risks destruction.

Standards of righteousness is then established by those with money or power. Justice becomes blind. Culture accepts only those who adhere to their corrupted values.

When Jason (Acts 17:6) was accused by the city gang for turning the world upside down is an example of man’s view of the situation. But Jesus reminds us throughout Scripture that HIS kingdom ways are the norm. When we practice his ways and prioritize his values the Kingdom flourishes. But, when we disregard HIS ways, we experience life outside of HIS favor. Our world ends up surrounded by the darkness of sin.

When you capture the vision of Christ’s Kingdom, you can only pray for HIM to return sooner than later. But until then, HE allows us to live under HIS Kingdom today. We can experience a small taste of heavenly bliss in this life now. As we live out the good news of HIS Kingdom, others may notice and want to also share life with HIM. HIS world, HIS way, HIS teachings are the norm. The sooner we allow HIM to live HIS life through us, the easier we will see how upside-down today’s culture really is.

The good news is you don’t have to play their game. You can order your life around Jesus and HIS Kingdom. When you do, you will internally experience the richness of life the way God does. You may not have all the surrounding material trappings of this upside-down world. But you will have the eternal treasures of living under HIS domain with HIS grace and favor.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: * indicates audio version now available
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Judge Rightly

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”   John 7:24

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The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15

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Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!  1 Corinthians 6:3

These past several weeks, I have become aware of a misconception some of us in the Lord are making. The idea that we are not to judge anyone. Most often someone takes Luke 6:37 or Matthew 7:1 without applying context into the Scripture.

These two Scriptures emphasize the standard of measurement you use when judging others. That we are to be aware of our words and refrain from being hypocritical. It does not mean we are not to judge others, but be cautious how we are to judge.

As Christ-followers, we are instructed to judge under the rule of God’s Kingdom. As the apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians, we are being prepared to judge angels in the new age to come. This life is the training ground of learning how to judge rightly.

In fact, whenever someone states we are not to judge, isn’t that a judgement statement?

How are you to determine if the fruit of the tree is good to eat or not? Are you not making a judgement?

Are you not judging when the car in front of you is swerving between lanes? You don’t know if the person is drunk, in the middle of a medical emergency, or trying to text while driving. Yet don’t you exercise caution in the situation?

When you interview a job candidate, are you not prejudging them?

When hiring a company to mow your lawn, are you not making a judgement on their work and ability to perform?

When you vote for a political candidate, are you not making a judgement?

We are making judgements all day long. The question is what criteria are we using as our basis.

As Christ-followers, we are students of HIS Kingdom. We are learning to govern ourselves and others HIS way. To do so means we need to know HIS heart and words on the matter. So yes, this is another reason to study the Bible.

For this life is a learning process preparing one for eternity with Jesus. One of the traits we all need to learn is how to judge rightly. It begins with walking with King Jesus. As we walk with HIM, communicate with HIM, and share life with HIM, HIS ways rub off on us. As we stray from HIM, we are disciplined. We learn how love and justice is applied. As we support HIM, we enjoy the righteous fruit of HIS Kingdom. As we study HIS ways and apply them, we grow in the faith. We gain wisdom along the way and grow spiritually mature. This is how we learn to judge from God’s perspective. We learn to judge not by our standards but based on the righteousness of Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: * indicates audio version now available
at Apple Books

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved