Author: Dr. Mike

God Seekers

Dr. Mike 2021, Knowing God , ,

Hebrews 11:6

…for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Psalm 10:4

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Deuteronomy 4:29

But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Simply stated – sometimes I wonder if life’s prime purpose is nothing more but to discover and walk with the God of the universe. The same God who created heaven and earth (Gen 1:1). The One who worked with Moses, David, and the prophets from the Old Testament along with all the saints in the New Testament. The God who from the foundation of the world created everything with a specific goal. Could that goal simply be to enjoy a benevolent relationship with HIM and each other?

Life has the tenancy to involve us in many different activities. Just the act of survival in many third world countries is an all-day affair. In more developed nations, the routine job of living has become more automatic and convenient allowing us to pursue avenues of perceived self-fulfillment. Yet at the end of our lives, what do we have to show?

The rich continue to become richer building up storage barns for their wealth. In comparison, the poor struggle for just the basic necessities of life. Yet both will leave everything behind when life’s curtain closes. So why bother start a race if you know how it will end?

If eternity doesn’t exist, and this life is it, then why bother doing anything for the simple pleasure of feeling happy for a few moments? If this is one’s perspective, then yes life is meaningless and empty and void of any reason for doing anything. BUT what if eternity is real?

What if the Biblical narrative is true? What if Jesus Christ is the Messiah promised thousands of years ago? Then would there be a reason to live with purpose and meaning greater than ours?

I strongly believe God created everything for you and I to enjoy life now and into eternity with HIM. That assurance has become stronger and stronger each day as we pursue our dreams and fight our daily battles. As we seek HIM, HE draws closer to us with HIS thoughts. As HE becomes known to us, we begin to witness HIS involvement with everyday life. As HE answers our prayers, we become struck in awe as how HE works out circumstances and changes hearts to fulfill our desires. And when we fail to live up to HIS righteousness, HE reminds us of HIS love for us and that we are already included in HIS family.

This walk of faith started in my late teen years when I surrendered to HIM without even knowing WHO HE IS. I started to seek HIM and have kept wanting to know more and more about HIM. I discovered more about HIS character and heart through the daily actions of living and studying in HIS world. Math, science, and history open the doors to reveal more of HIS ways. Love, Joy, and fatherhood are moments that reveal more of HIS brilliant mind. The gospel of Jesus Christ solidified HIS superior insight into how human nature is best unleashed for the benefit of all mankind.

Yes, one must be a God Seeker if one wants to experience life the way HE intended us to be. When we make HIM the central core of all other relationships and objectives, life gains real meaning and purpose. When one begins to understand HIS ways and implement those means into their very steps, real freedom and flourishment is experienced by the self and others. The more amazing thing though, is we have only seen a small fraction of WHO HE IS. It will take eternity to discover and learn how the most successful BEING in the universe thinks, works, and plays. And I for one look forward to each day now and the hereafter toward that realization.

What about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Dr. Mike 2021, Think About That...

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I (Paul) preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me…

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-26 (ESV)

There are times the Scripture needs no further explanation. Chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians known as the Resurrection chapter is such a powerful and logical argument for the basis of our belief, what more can I add. Paul hits a home-run with his persuasive points. If Christ wasn’t resurrected, then our faith is in vain. But based on the eye witnesses of over 500 people, the majority probably still alive when Paul wrote this letter to the Church, who witnessed Jesus alive after his crucifixion – a jury trial would easily reach the same conclusion.

And Paul goes one step further in acknowledging Jesus Christ as the first human morphed into a spiritual being, and eventually you and I will join him when HE returns to fully establish and deliver HIS Kingdom to GOD the Father after destroying every rule, power, and authority under Satan’s spell.   

The same power of God which confirmed that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord, is also the same power at work sanctifying you and I.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of yours and mine faith. You either believe and live it out looking forward to a new heavenly life or you deny and slowly decay into oblivion. A 21st century, five-star, award winning Sci-Fi movie couldn’t be written any better. The difference though, this is real life.

Enjoy this Easter season as your reminder that Jesus lives and plans to return for the finale. Until his physical presence is seen again, HE lives in you and I through the Holy Spirit which is transforming us from the inside-out into HIS image. Some days I shake my head as if I am living a dream. Yet the fruit and transformation over the years in my life and others is our statement to the world. HE LIVES.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Believe

Dr. Mike 2021, Business & Faith, Kingdom Paradigms, Life in Christ , ,

John 17:8,20-21

“For I (Jesus) have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me…I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Yes, I believe. I believe Jesus Christ is who HE claims HE IS: The Incarnate Son of God, King of Heaven and Earth, and Humanity’s Savior. I believe the Bible is a recorded narrative of God’s relationship with mankind and written for our sake. We can choose to believe or not.

I didn’t believe all this at the beginning of my faith journey. All I knew was if there was a God, he needs to intervene or this young man’s life was not going to make it through his teen years. And HE did.

Every journey begins with a set of beliefs. Our actions, decisions, and choices are based on these deeply held perceived truths. The more we exercise them, and the results come true, the more confident we become in our beliefs. However, whenever our actions repeatedly fail, we eventually evaluate our belief system and discard the unreliable “truth” for another.

Over a life time, certain beliefs become our anchor – we have proven their fundamental truths over and over again with similar favorable results. Other beliefs are still being evaluated. How many of us though purposely select and choose our beliefs?   

Our initial beliefs are indoctrinated into our souls through family, friends, and teachers. In our early lives, we are typically ignorant of our surroundings and the makeup of our soul. Even as adults, the social and news media bombard us with the latest fads and the current fear factors which we subconsciously allow into our belief safe. 

However, one day (could be late teens or now-a-days even late fifties) we start struggling with our interval belief system. We start questioning everything we have been told. When reality sets in and the realization we have been lied too, manipulated by others for their sake, and then in those extreme cases, thrown out with the bathwater, we most often find ourselves angry and hurt.

Unless we are grounded on a bedrock of fundamental beliefs proven over eons of time, the majority of us will substantially modify our belief system. The transition though is most often costly of time, relationships, and money. The best prevention is having a healthy family upbringing by parents who are grounded in solid values and beliefs. Where does healthy values and beliefs come from?

The number one bestselling book of all time is still the Bible. There is a reason. Within its pages contains valuable principles and truths which have been proven over time to work. The Book also points to the importance of having a relationship with the living God. When one walks with HIM, one slowly becomes more and more like HIM.

Per Jesus’ prayer in John 17, we become one with our Father God and Jesus Christ. When we do, we learn the foundational truths of life; gain knowledge, understanding, and wisdom to manage everyday life; and find assurance and purpose for living.

Yes, beliefs allow us to focus and put structure into our world. If we don’t believe in the Triune God, we will never seek out what HE has for us. On the other hand, for those of us who believe, our focus is to seek HIM out in every day life situations. When we do, we begin to witness answers to prayer, reoccurring solutions from an invisible hand, and broken people healed from inside-out. Like the wind, which we may not see but only witness its impact, we likewise witness the effect when God’s Spirit is engaged with others.

In summary, in regards to the Triune God, to believe opens the window of opportunity to discover HIM and the truth; but not to believe, only closes the window of ever really coming to know HIM and a life built upon lasting truth.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved