2022

You

Dr. Mike 2022 , ,

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You are God’s image bearer. You reflect HIS Glory. Therefore, your value as a person is determined by your Creator.

Yes, you and every person you meet reflects a portion of God’s attributes and value.

Whether you are male or female, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, born or unborn, as a human agency, you were made to reflect God’s image and glory for the world to witness. Your value comes from HIM.

God so strongly emphasizes this point; HE gave decrees throughout Scripture to refrain mankind to create or make a stone or metal image of either HIMSELF or people (Deut. 4:16) to worship. Nothing was and is to replace mankind as image bearers of Almighty God which you and I are.

When you realize your life was designed to be a witness for others to represent HIM before all of creation, your attitude and focus becomes more aligned with HIS. As you slowly taste life from HIS perspective, you want more of HIM involved in your daily life. Your desire is to know more about HIM. Your aim is to become HIS student. Your hope is to become more like HIM. Overtime, HE, and you develop a Father/Child relationship. HE becomes your role model.

Life takes on new meaning. Every person you meet is a walking billboard of God Almighty. Every person has good qualities which allows you to learn more who God IS. Every person also has qualities which allows you to learn the opposite of who HE IS. For though each person is made in HIS image, we have all acquired godless attributes caused by the sin virus which weigh us down. But HE in HIS magnificent foresight, has already dealt with the situation through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, we have the perfect representation of God. As a man-God, HE walked the earth living a sinless life by taking on our humanity within HIM and killing the penalty of SIN at HIS crucifixion. HE overcame life’s tribulations, even death at HIS resurrection, so that you and I may have life now and for all eternity. HIS life and story are the good news for all image bearers.

Jesus opened the door for every person to have a direct relationship with HIS Father God. Everything HE did was to include you within HIS family. But you need to accept this fact, be reconciled to HIM, and live out the family culture.

Until then, you will find yourself struggling to discover who you are, looking for love, joy, and peace in all the wrong places, and in the process of fighting your true birthright, you most likely will become more despondent and angrier at yourself and those around you.

The real you is desirous to be fully released. But you need to allow your Creator access into the inner chamber of your heart. He will not force HIMSELF upon you. He respects you because HE respects HIMSELF. He made you in HIS image and has wired you for a purpose. Why not let HIM fully maximize your human and eternal potential?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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God is with You

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Matthew 28:20

“…And surely, I (Jesus) am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Since God is always with you, are you always aware of HIS presence?

If you are human like me, your initial response is a resounding no. How does one stay permanently together when the other person keeps a low profile, stays invisible, and rarely speaks. And when you do receive communications from HIM, you are unsure if you correctly perceived the message and need confirmation whether you understood the matter as you believed you heard.

It is hard enough to understand your mate who is next to you, visibly communicating with their words, actions, and attitude. So how much more challenging with someone unseen?

Yet, when the Spirit is alive and active in one’s life, we begin to acknowledge there is a part of us that seems to understand the Word we receive (I Corinthians 2:10, Romans 8:27).    

Now “with” is a function word. We use the word to indicate participation and to express agreement. So, when God and you are walking together through life sharing each other’s interests, challenges, and hopes, are you not doing life together? Like any committed relationship, when you are together you are either fully engaged or partially engaged. Yet you are engaged. The only question is the degree of your engagement.

The with-God life is one where you and God are mutually in agreement and supporting each other through life’s trials, tests, and successes. Now God doesn’t need our support as much as we need HIS. Yet, HE allows us to participate with HIM in HIS macro plan to restore creation to HIS original intent. So as God shares HIS life with us and allows us to share our life with HIM, doesn’t life become a great ballroom dance with a full orchestra in the background traveling around the maze of other dancers who are likewise moving to a unique pattern as only HE and and each of you recognize your own?

As we allow HIM to lead us and likewise struggle to follow HIM, we slowly realize over time we are reflecting HIS glory for others to witness what the with-God life truly represents. Our engagement with HIM is determined most of the time with how focused and intentional our heart, mind, and behavior respond to HIS presence.

So, since HE is always with you, how intentional are you with HIM?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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Go or Having Gone?

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Matthew 28:18-20

And having come near, Jesus spake to them, saying, `Given to me was all authority in heaven and on earth; having gone, then, disciple all the nations, (baptizing them — to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all, whatever I did command you,) and lo, I am with you all the days — till the full end of the age.’ (Young’s Literal Translation)

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The word “GO” when properly translated from the original Greek text reads poreuthentes and is properly translated in most all other places as having gone or went.

Many in the Evangelical Church use this Scripture to encourage their members that real Christians focus their time and energy on going on mission trips. They imply this Scripture indicates we are to leave our families, work, and personal affairs behind and travel to a remote part of the world to save the lost. If you don’t, then you must not be a real Christian.

A poor Biblical understanding messes up many a saint. In fact, this is one of the best lessons of learning to read Scripture through the eye of multiple versions to determine its actual meaning.

Here the original word “Go” is translated in many English versions as an imperative verb rather than the corrective passive particle. A passive particle indicates an ongoing or state of completion, not an imperative command. Yes, even translators have their bias.

Jesus didn’t state a command to immediately pack up your bags and go on a mission trip. Instead, HE instructed that wherever you find yourself, make discipleship your primary purpose. Discipleship is the central core purpose behind the Church – to baptize and train students as they grow into the mature image of Jesus Christ. 

We read in the Books of Acts how the early Church was forced to leave Jerusalem and, in the process, continued to teach and make disciples in the other cities and towns they fled too. Wherever they found themselves, they spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Wherever you “go” does not necessarily mean you leave your career, family, and community and travel to some far-off place. Instead, it means where you are already planted and active you share the message and teachings of Jesus Christ to others. 

This is why I believe the largest mission field for any Christ-follower is the marketplace in your own community. Having setup shop in your neighborhood is a good place to begin. Your local school and shopping community is also a place where others are looking for the same relationship you have with our Lord.

You do not have to feel guilty if God doesn’t send you on a special mission trip. Yes, there are those who are specifically called for missions; just as there are Christians called to be single, or into full time vocational ministry. But we need to remember that every Christian is a full-time minister. Our vocation may be business, but our heart and mind are always reaching out to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to others.  

So, since you already have gone where you are currently residing, and whether you are a business maverick, an educational tutor, or a medical practitioner, your current world is your opportunity to live out this Scripture and make disciples of others. 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

PS: For those who seek to jump start into building a stronger relationship with our Perfect Father, or just seeking a monthly devotional, you may be interested in my new prayer book devotional – Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ v1 & v2. Check it out at here.

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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