Life in Christ

Boasting

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

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Like Jeremiah before him, the apostle Paul boasted not in his accomplishments, achievements, or personal attributes. Instead he boasted in Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:31). He even wrote in chapter 13 that boasting is one of the attributes not consider an act of love.

In 2nd Corinthians 11:30, Paul writes that if he must boast about himself, he will boast about his weaknesses. For as he explains in 2 Corinthians 12:9, he will gladly boast about his weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon him.

If you see a person who loves to boast about himself, you can quickly identify who is his god. Whenever a person bows down before himself, he places himself as a godhead. History proves how dangerous such a person may become. Eventually, (s)he may learn when the end of this life comes that self delusional human gods also come to an end. Meanwhile, many a person will have suffered in the hands of a boastful fool. For only a person void of the Spirit boasts about himself (Jude 1:16,19).

There is only one God. Worship Him. For without Him, we are only dead men walking. Like Jude writes, focus on your relationship with Jesus Christ. Boast about Him. He will present you blameless before him with great joy. Let humility cloth you. Let Jesus praise 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

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Rich, Richer, Richest

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

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How much do you need to be considered rich? How much would you need to be consider richer? And how much would you need to be considered the richest? Than more importantly, how much do you really need?

In the western culture, we are quickly evaluated on the value of our toys. To acquire a house, purchase a car, or simply to take a 2 week vacation in Monte Carlo takes a certain amount of wealth. Yet how come when we generally speak about being rich we associate it with material prosperity?

God loves both the rich and the poor. You can’t make God love you more by being richer or poorer. In fact, being rich or poor may prevent you from drawing closer to God. The writer of Proverbs 30:8-9 states: “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

Most of us would agree that life is easier with riches then without. Whether we are speaking about money, food, shelter, and clothing, the more or better quality, the more comfortable life becomes. On the other hand, what about love. There are those who would trade-in all their personal wealth for one person to love unselfishly.

There are those who would trade-in all their wealth for a healthy body that allows them to experience full activity of their bodily functions. My mother would continually preach to her children and friends that without good health, you are limited in what you can do on a daily basis.

As we age, most of us look back at life and realize that the most important relationship we truly wanted was never the one we wholeheartedly pursued. It generally takes many years of hard knocks, broken dreams, and hurtful relationships to arrive at the realization that to know God is the primary purpose of life.

When the Triune God becomes the center of ones being, one truly experiences more than physical wealth, health, or whatever can provide. To know Him, not theoretically or as an idea, but as a being with loving passion, righteous character, life-giving values, and meaningful purpose, makes one fall in love each and every day. When one set’s his heart and treasure for a deep, abiding relationship with the divine creator, one truly comes to know what it means to be rich, richer, and richest in the Kingdom of God.

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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The Real Blessed Life

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV

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What is the blessed life? There are those who say that being wealthy, healthy, and wise makes a blessed life. Other say it’s more than these three amigos.

In the same concept, is the blessed life something we cause to happen? Or simply a response for something that has happened to us? Who is our model for the blessed life?

Whenever this discussion arises, I like to point toward examples of the blessed life by the people found in Scripture. The best example, of course, is Jesus Christ.

Can we say if there is any one person that walked on the earth who exemplified the blessed life, wouldn’t it be him? God in the flesh. The Author and Maker of the Blessed Life. Yet for many of us, he may be a stumbling block of what the blessed life truly looks like.

As a carpenter prior to his public ministry, there is no record that he became wealthy. In fact, during his ministry he depended on the support of women. It would be safe to say that He was not a self-made billionaire.

During His ministry, his family thought Him to be crazy. His religious peers saw him a radical. He was betrayed by a friend. His students with the exception of John deserted him at his trial. He was condemned by the government as a traitor. He was buried in another person’s grave. Does this look like a person who lived the blessed life?

Often times we have a limited view of the truth. Seeing only a portion of reality, we erroneously build an entire doctrine around it. This is what happens in the narrative of the American Blessed Life. If you expounded this version of the gospel to your brothers and sisters in the Middle East or Africa, would they recognize it? Sorry, but they would wonder what you have been smoking.

The real blessed life is simply our response to the love of God. To know God and to be known by God places one in the center of an awesome life. As our relationship develops with the Triune God, we begin to experience His divine blessings. He is the great cause of everything that is good. We are simply the recipient of His goodness. And like Jesus who was blessed by His Father for good works, we likewise response to God’s love by living a sacrificial life for the sake of others.

We are not the initiator of the blessed life. God is. We simply respond to His love, truth, and grace. Our response glorifies Him, uplifts others, and allows us to experience the fruit of His divine nature. The measurement is not wealth, health, or wisdom. The real measurement of a blessed life is the character and attributes of the divine life flowing through you. This relationship with the Triune God and the process of walking with Him is the real blessed life.

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 a Friend…Share Today’s Message!