Bible Life Questions

How Do You Measure Faith?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions ,
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” I Corinthians 12:7-11 ESV.

 

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Sometimes what I hear spoken among my fellow brothers in the Lord makes me cringe. Take the concept of faith. Every time I hear someone desire more faith, (like faith is a commodity sold at the church gym), I find myself jumping into a situation that I would rather not.

Jesus had a similar situation with his disciples. In Luke 17:5-6, they approached Jesus asking him to increase their faith. Jesus reply was straight to the matter.  In today’s vernacular, he may have said something like “If you had only a little faith, you have enough.”

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 12:7-11 that faith comes from God as He apportions. Some people he gives a large amount of faith (the gentile Centurion whose daughter was healed in Luke 7:9) and other times He apportions a little amount of faith (Romans 14:1 is an example of a brother with low faith as it pertains to eating meat versus only vegetables.) We all have enough faith. It comes down to whether or not we exercise it.

What is so awesome about God is He rewards us according to what he has given us. If he gives us a large portion of faith, he will expect a return on his investment. Likewise, if he allocated a small portion of faith, he likewise will expect a return on his investment. Whether one starts off with a $1,000 or $1,000,000, a 100% return is a 100% return.

Humanity generally tends to look at the dollar amount and recognize the million dollar investment and return a better deal. However, God looks at the $1,000 return on a $1,000 investment with the same level of justice. In fact, he may even lean more towards the smaller value because to double the smaller amount may take more work and effort. Only he knows where a person truly started in life and the growth that came from the process. Human’s measure only from the outside. God looks at the total picture: inside-out and outside-in.

So instead of measuring ourselves with others, maybe it is better to look at yourself in comparison with Jesus. Even when we look at where we came from to where we are today, the glory and reward is His. We only did the best we could with what we have been given. How about you?

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

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Where is Your Faith?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions ,

 

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Luke 8:25 ESV.

 

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The disciples are on a boat with Jesus and are panicking because of the vast storm they find themselves battling.  Jesus awakes from his sleep and notices the frighten faces. Before he commands the winds and waters to behave, he looks at the disciples and asks the question, “Where is your faith?”

The same question may be asked of you and I multiple times as we face the challenges that life throws us. Where is your faith?

Paul writes in I Corinthians 12: 4-11 that the Holy Spirit distributes various gifts to us including faith. Likewise in Romans 12:3 he again writes that God distributes the gift of faith to each of us.

Jesus himself stated that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains (Mt. 17:20).

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is faithfulness (Gal. 5:22). To be full of faith is faithfulness.

Faith is a gift from God. God has given each of us a portion as he determines. You may have been given a 100 gallon tank of faith and I only a pint. But we each have the gift of faith. We only need to exercise it.

It is also unwise to compare ourselves with someone who has a 100 gallon faith tank when we only have a pint. God knows. Like the parable of the talents, we are to be good stewards of what God has given us and invest for future returns.

For me to turn the faith pint into a faith quarter is a 100% return. For the person who has 100 gallon faith tank, a pint return is only a .125% return.

So yes the person who has been given much faith, much is expected from him. However, the person who has been given a little faith, much is also expected from him. However, their reward at the finish line will probably be as much and maybe more than many expect.

What does this all mean?

Simply this: God gives us the faith we need to operate under. Don’t compare your faith with each other. Compare your faith with Jesus’. That will keep you humble, dependent on Him, and allow you to maximize your potential as God created you to be.

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

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

 

 

 

Who Are You Lord?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions , , ,

 

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:5 ESV.

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Which Jesus are you familiar with?

Do you know the gregarious, celebrating Jesus who was accused by the religious leaders as a wine bibber and glutton? Or do you recognize the weeping Jesus who cried prior to resurrecting Lazarus? Or maybe the healing Jesus who gave sight to the blind?

Then what about the beaten Jesus with bleeding cuts and bruises prior to his crucifixion? The hungry Jesus who fasted for 40 days prior to his confrontation with Satan? The popular Jesus who drew crowds of thousands to hear what he had to say? Or the controversial Jesus who questioned the religious teachings of his day?

Maybe you are familiar with the runaway Jesus who left his family at the age of twelve for three days discussing Scripture with the teachers in the Jewish temple? How about the Jesus who hung around prostitutes, thieves, and debt collectors? Or the wimpy Jesus who hung around women all day?

Many probably identify the teaching Jesus who took every event of the day to expound on his kingdom and way of life. Or the Jewish Jesus who kept the Holy days outlined in the Bible. Or the rebellious Jesus who broke the religious traditions of the times. Then there is the praying Jesus who would rise early in the mornings to spend time with His Father. Or the carpenter Jesus who built tables, chairs, and houses for people in the community.

Possibly some may even recognize the obedient Jesus who resisted the temptation of Satan and trusted God for His destiny. Or the suffering Jesus who took everyone’s Sin unto himself while focusing on the joy that laid before him. Maybe even the dying Jesus who was unjustly accused and sentenced to death by the government establishment.

My question for today though, is how many identify the living Jesus now sitting next to his Father in authority for heaven and earth? How many see Jesus now sitting at the table along with all our brothers and sisters? How many of us identify with the Jesus who is returning to complete the Triune Project started at the foundation of the universe?

Whichever Jesus you identify with is probably where you find him today in your life. And as the seasons change while we walk with our King, Savior, and Friend, He reveals himself to us as we need to know. Meanwhile, enjoy the journey, share the good news, and allow Him full access to make his imprint in your life story.

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

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!