Kingdom Paradigms

Love and Respect

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Kingdom Paradigms, Life Tools

Romans 12:10 (CJB)

Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect.

 

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There are relationship principles taught throughout the Bible when practiced makes the Kingdom of God come alive. One such principle is the relationship between leaders and followers. This would apply in business, government, and yes even the little-league baseball game.

This principle is built around the godly concept of love and respect. Both attributes are necessary for the relationship between two parties to be fully engaged. In summary, the follower is to respect the authority of the leader and the leader is to love the follower. What does this look like in a practical setting?

In the home, the Bible teaches that the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church (Eph 5:25). Which means he is willing to sacrifice his life (time, money, possessions, goals, body, etc.) for her. On the other side, the wife is to respect (show honor) for her husband. Both sides are to mutually submit one to another (Eph. 5:21).

In the workplace, bosses are to care for their employees as unto the Lord (Col.4:1) The employees are to serve their leaders as serving Jesus Christ (Eph.6:5). Love and respect show up again.

In government, we are instructed to honor the emperor (I Pt.2:17). The king is to operate from a position of steadfast love and faithfulness (Proverb 20:28). Again, love and respect show their power.

What if the other side doesn’t cooperate in the relationship? Simple answer: You do your part and let the Lord do His. We pray and ask our heavenly Father to shower His grace upon them. Since He has shared His grace upon us, don’t we want all to experience the same joy? I’m sure we don’t have to be selfish with him. He has so much more to share with others; and isn’t it exciting to watch how He gently invades the lives of others? You will find during your life travels that much grace is going to be handed out toward others who may not fully understand the ways of God. You just may be the prayer warrior who introduces our Rabbi to them. So, let love and respect find their way into your relationships and see how the kingdom of God comes alive in your world.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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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Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

God’s Will

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms

Psalm 103:19 (NASB)

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.

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What is God’s Will for your life?

A simply process to follow without getting into heavy theology is to understand how the Bible presents His Will. In summary format, you could classify His Will into three dimensions: Providential, Moral, and Personal.

Providential is God’s overall hand leading history as He desires. A good example is the prophecy and fulfillment of Israel and Jesus Christ. From the beginning of time God had specific plans which he foretold and worked out through various people, tribes, and nations.

God’s Moral Will is the basis of how we relate with one another. Overall, His Will is a byproduct of His character. The ten commandments and all the other principles explained throughout Scripture are the outward focus of God’s love. Jesus himself stated that to love God with our entire being and caring for our neighbor is the fulfillment of His love. As we practice His love, we are in His Will.

Lastly, God’s Will for you personally is the one we most likely mean when we seek His Will for our life.  This is simply aligning yourself with the talents and gifts he empowered you with along with discovering your place in the Body of Christ. It is having a personal relationship with our Creator. It is knowing the Triune God and making Him known before others.

So, what is God’s Will for your life?

For most of us, God’s Will is not a global ministry but a personal crusade. God may choose you for a specific long-term mission, but for most of us they are short term assignments. It is to know Him and make Him and His ways known. As we live in His Presence, He shares His life with us and we share His life with others, we are in His Will.

So, when we come to a fork in life’s journey and we seek direction, most of us get stuck thinking there is only one solution or one direction that is God’s way and everything else is not. Eventually we may learn the fork in the road is to exercise the wisdom He has bestowed upon us. It is to seek wise counsel from those who may have been there before. It is to pray and seek insight from the Lord who knows your talents, skills, and the real opportunities before you.

When you realize your God is always with you no matter which road you choose, you can walk in confidence that the outcome will be OK. In hindsight it may not have been the best decision, but if you could have none differently, you would have. But based on the information you collected, you made the best choice you knew.

God’s Will is wider and deeper and more opportunistic then many of us allow. We place limited boundaries upon God who does the impossible and upon ourselves whose faith is yet maturing.

So, don’t limit yourself. God is for you. His Will for you is simply to know Him, make Him known to others, and build an intimate relationship with one another as you both mutually share your life with each other.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

 

Glorify God.

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , ,

Psalm 86:12

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. ESV.

 Psalm 50:15

…and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” ESV.

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This morning I had the joy of biking for twelve miles against a warm, steady and strong, southwestern wind. With the wind behind pushing me forward, I felt like an eagle souring through the sky. However, with the wind blowing directly in front of me, it felt like climbing a 30-degree steep hill. In both directions, it made me think what life is like living with God versus against Him.

When we align ourselves with the Author of Reality, life is like the wind behind us. We find strength we didn’t know we had. We move forward toward our destination and goals with ease. With very little effort, and in many cases while resting, our objectives unfold before us.

However, when we fight against the Truth, we are constantly fighting a battle against the wind. We have to increase our energy level. Our legs, arms, and overall body hurts from the excessive work we have to put in. Even when we reach our destination, we are tired and beaten from the experience. The joy of the journey turns into a fiasco of pain.

Yes, there are days when our world is turned upside down. Yet life upside down with God is more manageable than life upside down and rebelling against Him.

Whenever we make up our mind to stop fighting the Truth and accept the reality of Jesus Christ’s work, we find ourselves on our knees with lifting arms thanking and praising Father – Son – Spirit.

When we realize He wants to share His life with us, allows us to live in His Presence, and made everything so you and I could enjoy life with Him, how can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

When we are grateful for the life he has given us, the opportunities He provides us to grow and mature, and to live in such a time as this in history, how can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

When we discover our natural talents and gifts which He has uniquely equipped us, and we allow Him to direct our steps toward serving others, we find fulfilment, meaning, and purpose for living. The overall result is a fruitful and quality improvement of our life which also enhances the life of those who we love and serve. How can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

When we realize this sandbox, called Earth, was made for us to work and play in, and He has given us instructions how to make life more enjoyable for each of us, how can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

When we realize He has written the entire script, invites us to participate with Him in playing out our role, and will reward us with more than an Emmy or lifetime achievement award in the greatest celebration the world has ever known, how can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

Everything was made through and for Jesus Christ. And as the gospel reveals, He includes you and me with Him. He shares his throne with us, his righteousness, and his resurrection, along with everything else because He loves us and wants what is best for us. How can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

When He becomes the center of your life, and everything flows from Him and through you and into each other, how can we not stop and give Him the glory He alone deserves?

Bottom-line: whenever, however, and wherever, always take time to stop and give Him the glory He deserves.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved