Kingdom Paradigms

Brighten Your Corner of the World

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.Matt.5:16 ESV.

Life is a dance with the Almighty. As you yield your heart and follow His lead around the dance floor of life, you find yourself growing in the grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your countenance begins to change. Over time, those previous broken areas of your life are now radiant with a newness and vibrancy for life. You have come to the place where you realize that the Triune God actually loves you and lives in you.

He not only lives in you, but he is working to transform you from the inside-out. The more you deny yourself for His name sake, the more His light shines through. The more you submit yourself to His healing touch, the more His light radiates through the pain. When you come to realize that the only good within any person is what God produces, the quicker you begin to experience the full riches of His glory.

God especially loves to share Himself with those who draw close to Him (James 4:8). So as He opens our eyes to serve others, He will provide the means. As He opens our ears to hear, His Spirit leads us how to best reply. As He leads us into opportunities to do good, we follow with assurance.

The light others see is God’s presence shining through the broken jars of humanity (2 Corinthians 4:7). We no longer hide God’s work in us and through us. We are not even concern whether our right hand knows what our left hand is doing (Matt. 6:3). Instead, we just let God’s love and grace lead us to do good work for His glory. The outcome is His light shining through for others to see. When you follow the lead of the Greatest Dancer in your corner of the world, people will notice. And you don’t even have to try to be noticed. Just let the light of Jesus shine through you each and every day.

Happy Easter!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

Biblical Bias

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Kingdom Paradigms ,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28 ESV.

We all read Scripture from a personal bias. Which leads to the question, “what is yours?”  Over the years in different seasons of life, we probably have read the Bible from multiple worldviews. Most of us initially read Scriptures from a 21st Century western civilization thought pattern. Eventually over time, we may start to read the Word from a Jewish Christian perspective. Then again, others may read from a feminist or humanistic platform. Than others from a denominational background. Or more prevalent today, from a combination of multiple-denominational and non-denominational teachings. The question for today though is “what is your personal bias?”

It is good to know for two reasons. One, it helps you identify different positions that your brothers and sisters in the Lord have taken; and secondly, it helps you to stay humble realizing that there is a possibility you may be in error and therefore be open to learn from others.

Today I lean heavily toward a Jesus Centered, Incarnate Triune God worldview. This is my bias. So when I read Scripture, I use this as my filter to clarify those difficult sections and gain more knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is in relationship with His Father and with humanity.

For example, take the Scripture, “Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom.16:16).” Depending on one’s view, a different understanding will arise on what a holy kiss looks like. Some of our Arminian friends may explain it as a righteous kiss since they associate holiness with righteousness. Again, our humanistic or feminist sister may view a holy kiss as one with passion or maybe one that shows respect toward others. Then again, some of our denominational buddies would say it is a command and should be done today. Others agree but establish other norms such as no kissing between the sexes. Some say it was a custom of Biblical times but in the western civilization of the 21st century we may shake hands or hug to show the same love and respect the holy kiss is meant to portray.

No matter one’s preference, one still needs to understand the culture of the time period being covered to determine the application for today’s Believer. Some principles are eternal and others are for specific events and times. The kiss is still the cultural norm in the middle-eastern countries today where men and women greet one another with a kiss on both cheeks. However in America, we typically hug or shake hands depending on how well we know the other party. So no matter what your preference, the principle is to extend a Godly greeting to the other. Since God is holy and holiness is a combination of love, joy, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (among a multitude of other positive attributes), the holy kiss of the 1st century is still a holy greeting in the 21st century. The attitude and heart of the greeting is the measuring stick; not the mechanical means employed.

So what does this all mean?  Simply know your bias and recognize the bias of others when you read and employ the Scripture in everyday life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Soft Love; Tough Love

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV.

One day when the world wakes up and recognizes that the central core attribute built in every nook and cranny of this planet is from a heart of Love, then life will be actively lived out like God’s original intent. But until then, we who have already met our maker in the shadows of life, have the honor and privilege to share his ways with others today.

Love is one of those terms which means different things to different folks. The only example that I have learned to respect and weight carefully is how the Triune God relates and deals with me. He knows when to hold and comfort me. He also knows when to hold and discipline me. I call this soft love and tough love.

The basic heart is the same. He cares for me and knows what is best for me. He knows when to push me and when to rest me. He knows my limits and my potential. He is the Master love mechanic.

Isn’t that the way we need to learn to be with others?

When my daughter misbehaved, I didn’t have to take a rod to her. Instead, one look from the eye of Dad and she knew she needed to change. On the other hand, when I did something that was disapproving to my Mother, she knew the look wasn’t going to change anything. Instead, she took the frying pan and let me experience the full impact of a good swing.

Aren’t we the same way with each other? Some circumstances require soft love; other situations require tough love. Jesus himself extended mercy and compassion (soft love) to many of the common folk around him. Yet when he faced the religious leaders and lawyers of his day, he came at them with stronger language and emotional cuts to the heart (tough love). He knew the people involved and the best method to employ.

We need to learn the same.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved