Kingdom Paradigms

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms, Life in Christ , ,

1 Corinthians 6:12

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. ESV.

 

While driving your car in most states in America, you are allowed to make a right hand turn on a red light at an intersection after you stop your car. It doesn’t mean you have too, but you can.

In America, you can also apply for whatever job you want. You may not have the skills and temperament, but you can. Again, it doesn’t mean you should, or qualified, but you can apply.

Likewise in America, you have the right of free speech. The law allows you to express yourself with the protection of the government. Again, you have the right to say what you want but it doesn’t mean you ought too.

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. At the intersection, someone may be crossing the street that if you turned there would be a major accident. Just because you can apply for a job, you would be short-changing yourself, your employer, and others if you weren’t fully qualified to manage the work. Again just because the person needs much grace doesn’t mean you have to verbally abuse or assassinate their character because you don’t agree with them.

Because you can doesn’t mean you should. Chocolate is a favorite food for many. But there are those like myself that can’t control the amount we eat. Therefore, rather than be a slave to its gluttony desire,  we find it best to stay away. Sex is a strong desire with much pleasure. Yet outside of a committed relationship within marriage, it becomes a physical addiction and not an intimate, relationship builder. You can also have as many gods in your war chest as you need, but if the Triune God is not before them, first, and central, you are wasting your time and energy on worthless idols.

The bottom-line: You can if you so choose, but are the consequences worth it?

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

 

 

What Is the Good Life?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
John 10:10 ESV.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

How would you define the good life?

Married to the perfect spouse? Children who behave saintly at home and away? Neighbors who care for you and your success? Work that is fulfilling and rewarding? Material comforts where you have no needs? Physical health abounding with energy? Time to experience the beauty of creation and the fruit of your work? And (add whatever else you believe it will take) to fulfill the good life?

Does your life look like this?  Or is it almost the opposite? Yet Jesus came so we could have a life overflowing with abundance. Where is mine you may ask?

There are those who equate ones faith with wealth and health. If you aren’t healthy or wealthy, you must be lacking in faith (this is their erroneous self-righteous belief). Others are satisfied if only one area of their life meets their expectation. Yet Jesus came so we could have a life overflowing with abundance. Isn’t this what he is quoted as saying? Did he forget you and me?

The good life isn’t measured in quantity. Nor is it necessarily measured by external luxuries. Instead, the good life is the outer expression of an inner treasure. When we surrender to God’s Will and allow Him to fully reside in us, the outcome is His goodness being expressed through you & I.

None of us are good; only God (Mark 10:18). When His character is allowed to be fully exemplified through you and me, goodness shines. The longer we allow His goodness to shine through us, the more impact His goodness has in the world around us.

The good life is simply allowing the Triune God to fully manifest Himself in you and through you. The beneficiary is you and those you come into contact with each and every day. The more you hang out with Him, the more His goodness rubs off on you and others. Apart from His Spirit merging with your spirit, you will only frustrate yourself in the process. With God’s presence living in you comes the full measure of His Spirit which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Want the good life? Build a yielding, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, allow His Spirit to lead you, and you will experience the good life. And yes, the inner life leads to a pretty good outer life. But the outer life is simply the eternal expression of a good inner one.

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

 

 

Grace Unlimited

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , ,
1 Peter 5:10 ESV.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

 

What is grace?

Many people I speak with seem to think it has only to do with the forgiveness of your sins. Others believe it is so much more. I being one.

Grace is simply defined as “unmerited favor.” Yes our Lord Jesus extended His grace upon us by removing mankind’s Sin of rebellion. But grace is so much more.

When Peter preached his first sermon on the Feast of Pentecost immediately after Christ’s resurrection, he quoted from the prophet Joel who stated in the latter days God’s Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity. The result is a manifestation of acts leading toward human flourishing. Without God extending His grace upon us through His Spirit, we would not be experiencing the richness of this planet. God is in the business of pouring out His grace upon us because He is the source of everything good.

Whether we pursue Him or not, His goodness and unmerited favor is showered everyday upon this planet. He feeds the ignorant and unjust. He hears the prayers of every person no matter their denomination or belief. Whether He answers or how He answers is another matter. But He knows. He grants unmerited favor upon people who serve His purpose. He allows the unrighteous to live longer than others knowing that time may breakdown their hard hearts.

When suffering seems overwhelming and the solutions are few, He showers His unmerited favor upon us. Yes we may hurt for a moment, but He is there to help carry us through. He is the author of grace and the sustainer of grace. He realizes our fragility. From His love, we experience His favor not because who or what we do, but because of who He IS. We don’t earn or buy His favor. Instead we place our trust in Him and allow His natural self rub off unto us. We realize the more we come to know Him and develop a strong, intimate relationship with Him for no other reason but to know Him and appreciate Him for who He IS, everything else will work out because of Who He IS.

Grace unlimited. How sweet the sound.

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