2021

Making Marriage Work

Dr. Mike 2021 , , , 
Hebrews 13:4

Marriage should be honored by all…

A recent poll by Time magazine revealed that twenty-five percent of millennials are likely never to marry and only six percent wanted a traditional marriage. The remaining majority either will choose to live together out of wedlock or remain single. On the other side, only six percent of married couples make it to their 50th anniversary.

Marriage, from a worldly view, is often looked at as a social construct rather than a God-ordained institution. As a Christ-follower though, marriage is the bedrock for social stability and spiritual growth. Within the partnership of another and Christ the center, one learns more effectively how to relate, work, and enjoy the richness of life from God’s perspective.

The Creator Being of the universe designed marriage for our good. However, people, like everything else we touch without God’s knowledge, have the tenancy to pervert and destroy what is good.

When two people grow together and become one, the relationship is a foretaste of the relationship lived out by our Triune God. God is Father-Son-Spirit in community with himself. One God consisting of three persons. The ideal marriage likewise is a threesome community relationship consisting of a man, woman, and God. A threefold cord not easily broken.    

I have the privilege of spending time with several men whose marriages are almost as long as I am old. They gladly share their successes and failures learning to become better husbands and fathers with others. The below are some Biblical high-points which they reiterate more often with the younger men in our group.  Like most of them admit, they view these items from the rear-view mirror of life which is twenty-twenty vision. They only wish they had learned them much earlier in life.

The most important value which they all agree is being sure Jesus Christ is the center of both husband and wife and family affairs. When HE is the base of operations, there is an agreement in values and life purpose. Everything flows from there.

And just as important, marriage is a life-long commitment. The only way it ends is at death. With that understanding, both sides are in it for the long haul. They realize commitment is a Godly standard as HE has demonstrated over and over again HIS commitment to us. The Bible is loaded with examples where HE is always faithful to HIS people no matter what happens. He is always there restoring the relationship no matter how stupid we may behave. He is there for the long haul.

To stay committed, requires that both sides continue to communicate openly and honestly with each other. In the early years of their marriage, they would hide behind their fears. But as the two grew together, they learn to share and be transparent with each other. To accept the other for what God has designed and help the other person to become what GOD wants with them became their motivation. They want their marriage to be a witness for others how God behaves and acts in doing good work.

Of course, a majority of time communications will be about compromising one’s position for what is best for each other and the whole family. There will be battles, arguments, and heated exchange at times, but knowing each are committed to make the relationship work, will end with both sides reaching a mutual agreement. Both sides will take turns to sacrifice. Both sides will also pursue their goals. The outcome may not be ideal, but they will be glad to work it out together for the mutual benefit of all.

One of the biggest compromises will be about cash – how is the money going to flow. Who earns it, who controls it, and how it is going to be spent? The earlier this is resolved, the quicker and easier the marriage will prosper.

Another compromise will be about children. Again, the more honestly discussed upfront, the less surprises later in the marriage.

Lastly, find a faith community to keep each of you accountable to each other and family. When you live life with others within the faith community, you witness lives being transformed by Jesus Christ and you are constantly reminded what life’s endgame is all about. You and your children develop friendships and have a safe space to socialize with others who accept you and your values.

Marriage is hard work. Yet these men would do it all over again. Their only regret is learning the hard way. They wish someone would have shared what they know now with others. Hopefully, these words may help you in your marriage walk with God and your spouse as you live out your purpose serving God and others in preparation for life now and tomorrow’s new age.

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

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Christ-Centered Character

Dr. Mike 2021 , ,

Galatians 4:19

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…

The nucleus of a Christian life is Jesus Christ. He is the central core for all of life. When we acknowledge HIM as who he is, only then do we discover a path which leads toward fulfilling our human potential.

In business, we are trained to start with the end result in mind and then work backwards filling in all the steps necessary for its attainment. The same can be said about your life and mine.

In the above Scripture, the apostle Paul states the goal for each believer is to be made in the image of Jesus Christ from the inside-out. A process of having yours and mine attitude and character shaped into the very carbon copy of Jesus. Later in Chapter five he emphasizes the building material being the character attributes of the Holy Spirit being fully expressed through us. Paul compared the entire character-building process to childbirth.

C.S. Lewis in his writings like to define Christians as “little Christs”; like children being molded after their parents. A life-long process over time which ends with the son or daughter grown up with similar characteristics of their parent. The same is true of us believers.

When you start with the end of life, you will quickly acknowledge that we came with nothing into this world and we shall leave with no material possessions at the end. However, there is something we will take with us into the next phase of our lives – our soul.

The soul, which includes the entire bastion of one’s emotional attitudes, mental bank, and characteristic willpower, will one day be resurrected into a new body. Until then, like the new born child awaits in the womb of their mother being prepared for life outside of the womb, we likewise are being prepared in this life for a new adventure in the world tomorrow when we will be resurrected into eternity. The last chapters of the Bible showcase the new resurrected life we are currently being prepared to enter.

So, what does all this mean?

As a mother nurtures her begotten child, being careful to eat and drink healthy items which will assist in her child’s positive development, so must we the Church, nourish and feed believers until they mature into the image of Christ being formed in each one of us. Just as a responsible mother makes her primary purpose for nine laborious months doing everything in her power to give birth to a healthy baby, likewise the Church needs to do the same.

Yet, just as there are mothers who have failed to fulfill their responsibility, there are also believers who have failed to participate in the process. The end result are children of the faith who may be mature in the eyes of the world, but are yet babes in the eyes of God. One Pew research study showed that most Christians understanding of their faith stopped when they quick going to Sunday school in the 8th grade. In other words, their growth and understanding of God’s work stopped at the same time. Physically, they grew up, but spiritually they are still babies drinking milk.

If you are unsatisfied with your spiritual walk with the Lord, maybe its time to join a small group of believers who understand the importance of sharing life and growing together in preparation for eternity. More Jesus and less me is a motto used by one of the small groups I had the privilege to participate for a number of years. Like iron sharpens iron, so one believer sharpens another. Of all the church activities I have participated in, the small group is where I believe the work of the church comes more alive in helping Christ be formed in 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-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Your Spirit

Dr. Mike 2021, Your Identity 
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:63
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and life.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

Romans 8:5-6
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

You are a triune entity consisting of a spirit governed by a soul residing in a body.

When you align yourself with the knowledge and understanding of the relationship between your body, your soul, and your spirit, then you have a stronger grasp of how you can best operate to fulfill your human potential. In our previous writing, we highlighted your soul and body. This time we emphasize your spirit.

The Bible discusses different type of spirits:

Spirit of man (Zechariah 12:1, Proverbs 20:27, Job 32:8)

Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28, Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Luke 1:41, Luke 4:1)

Unclean spirits (Mk 5:8, Matt 12:43-45, Lk 6:18)

Evil spirits (Lk 8:2, Acts 19:12, Lk 11:26)

There is a constant battle going on between your spirit and the spirit in the world. We read of the encounter between Jesus and Satan in the desert at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Satan (evil spirit) tried to seduce Jesus with immediate gratification of his life goal if HE yielded to Satan’s temptations. Jesus prevailed and the rest is history.

Most of us allow outside spiritual influences to invade and overcome our spirit. When the spirit falls, the soul and body soon follow into decay. But Jesus came with a solution. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become engaged to marry him; and the Holy Spirit and your spirit become one with the Triune God. The more you submit yourself to Him, the more you become like Him. And you join Him in his victory over Satan and the evil spirits of this world.

The Bible explains the continual struggle between our physical desires and spiritual needs. Most of the time, we satisfy the physical rather than the spiritual which leads to immediate satisfaction but produces long-term frustration and pain. Instead of placing the spirit first on our list of priorities, we make the outer casing, the body, the short-term winner. Only after we come to the place of realizing when the spirit is given top priority, the outer body also reaps the benefits of a wholesome, full life. And even when there may be short term pain for the body for emphasizing the spirit, the eternal reward makes it worth the effort.

In short:

Your spirit is a conduit which networks with God and others. You have direct access to the God who sustains the universe via your spirit. Likewise, your spirit bonds with others in a unified fashion. When two kindred spirits meet, there is a mutual bonding of mind and thought. On the other hand, when one walks in spiritual darkness, there is a repulsive battle between themselves silently screaming for help. Those who have been there recognize the situation and approach with their spirit on guard to help.

Your spirit is influenced by other spirits – some good, others bad. The good spirit is the Holy Spirit, God Himself. He produces good fruit in his children. The evil spirits are your demons and the dark forces working within the culture. Everyday, people are being swayed by the spirit of greed, fear, lust, covetousness, hatred, lies, etc. If you allow your spirit free range to inhale everything that comes your way, you will find yourself captured by unwanted hosts. Like a computer without virus software, you will find yourself soon non-operatable. Without a strong defense, which a healthy soul provides, the path only leads to destruction and pain. However, God has given us equipment to battle and defend our internal habitat. The solution is found in Jesus Christ and expounded throughout the Bible.  

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-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved