Life in Christ

Improve Your Focus

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

focus 2

Ever walk into a middle of a movie without knowing the plot, main characters, and setting?

Ever climb a ladder to the top only to find the ladder was on the wrong wall?

Ever take a shortcut only to find yourself in a dead-end street?

If we have lived long enough, most of us will have experienced one of these three scenarios. It is only afterwards the realization hits us that we didn’t have the proper information at our disposal. We may have sincerely believed we knew what we were doing at the time, but the outcome proved otherwise. Hindsight is 20/20.

Isaiah writes that we behave with God the same way. We think we have it all figured out. We have an advance degree from a prestigious university. We have been successful in business. People seek us out for our opinion. We are known throughout the circuit as an expert in our field. Yet what we know is little in comparison to the God who created the little world you live in.

Think about it: God doesn’t need a degree to prove his mental capacity. God doesn’t need money to acquire buildings, land, or food. And God doesn’t need people to do his work for him.

At times it seems we act like we know the answer when in reality we are probably more lost, confused, and ignorant than the next person. In short, we inexcusably spend valuable time chasing after the low hanging fruit instead of developing a relationship with the owner. We pursue love, joy, and peace instead of the Source. We search for a new experience, mate, or career thinking it will give us the satisfaction we seek instead of the Planner of Life. Our focus is on the benefits rather than the Benefactor.

If you want the abundant life, stop chasing it. Instead refocus your heart, mind, and soul to know Him who made everything possible. For when you start hanging out with the Lord of Lords, you can’t help become more like Him. He changes you. It is not what you do but instead who you do it with that matters. When you learn to walk 24/7 with the King of Kings, your relationships will bloom. Your love life will grow. Your focus becomes to please Him. Not so you can attain an abundant life. But so you can hang out with the Abundant One. There is no other place you would rather be.  Your focus is on Him.

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

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He is Greater Than I

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
” He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV

greater1

Someplace, somewhere, sometime we shall all suffer from a severe case of stupidity. Most often it occurs when we think we have the world in the palm of our hand. The symptoms are very noticeable. Typically we feel invincible. We feel powerful. We feel in control of our destiny. Than something happens. Reality strikes. We are knocked off our high horse. Our mortality bites us.

It takes approximately three minutes without air for life to stop. It takes approximately 3 days without water for bodily organs to begin shutting down. And it takes about 3 weeks without food when the body likewise starts shutting down. What all this means is that you and I are no gods. Our physical life had a beginning and will one day end. We are not born immortal. Immortality is a gift. A gift that comes from someone who is greater, bigger, and stronger than you and I.

John the Baptist knew that his mission was to introduce Jesus the Messiah. John was not the main event. His preaching and baptizing was to prepare the people for the arrival of the Jewish King. When Jesus arrived and began to gather a following larger than John’s, he took to a teaching moment which is now quoted as John 3:30.

Jesus’ mission was to grow. John’s was to become smaller. His fame was to step aside for Jesus’ fame. His story was now to move back into the rear while Jesus’ took over the narrative. He didn’t complain. He didn’t sulk. He simply acknowledged his work was done. A ministry that lasted for a very short time. In today’s measurement of organizational success some would say a failure. Yet in Jesus’ eyes, John fulfilled his mission and later praised him among all men (MT. 11:11).

What lesson do we learned from this? It is not about the size, length, or impact of your service to others. Instead it is about being faithful to the one who sends you. It is realizing where your strength, sustenance, and resources come from. It is acknowledging who you are accountable to.  When all is said and done, most of us will come to the realization that He is greater than any person. Then it becomes the question, what are you going to do about it?

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

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!

Becoming One

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21 ESV

become one1

In Jesus’ prayer after what scholars call his last supper he thanks his Father for being one with each other. In addition he asks His Father that his current and future disciples also  become one with Father God & Jesus.

What is so important about this request?

Simply this, Jesus shares with us his vision of the relationship he expects between the Triune God and us. His prayer is we walk in union, harmony, and agreement with the Triune God.

In fact, his example of Biblical marriage between a man and woman gives us a model to emulate. In marriage, the purpose is for two people to become one. A single entity with dual input.

Likewise in our relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit who lives in us, we have the privilege to walk in union with the Creator of life. Jesus’ desire is to make it so. Doesn’t God become more real when both you and Him are in agreement with purpose, meaning, and methodology?

Like a successful marriage were both give 100% of each other for the sake of the other, so is the same in our union with the Triune God. God is 100% committed and faithful in the relationship. The ultimate question: How about you & I?

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

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!