Do Good

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Kingdom Paradigms , ,

1 Peter 2:15 – For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ESV.

Imagine a world where every person’s focus is to seize opportunities to do good for the person next to them!

It comes more natural with those who are close to us, but how about those people not within our inner circle?

Not our next door neighbor, but our next, next door neighbor; not the person who we have similar interests; but the one whom we have nothing in common.

Want to intentionally be more Christ-like? Why not set a goal of touching at least one other person each day with a little goodness? Ask God to lead you and watch a three-fold cord become strengthen: your relationship with the Triune God, your relationship with another person, and God’s relationship with each of you.

Also in a way, to do good in response to evil thrown your way allows you to imitate our Heavenly Father who does the same every day. Besides, it may be kind of fun to watch the perplexed face of others when you respond with goodness rather than retaliate with a form of violence (Romans 12:20-21).

Every movement begins when one person makes the commitment to act. Therefore, why not form a committee of one (you) and with Christ, go change your corner of the universe by planting seeds of goodness?

Besides, isn’t the Christian life an adventure of sharing God’s goodness with each other anyway?

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

Do You Trust Your Obedience or Christ?

Dr. Mike Jesus Apprentice, Kingdom Paradigms , ,
Luke 18:9-14 ESV.

He (Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.

Sometimes, if not most of the time, we catch our self judging others based on their outward performance and not coming to know their heart.

Jesus in this parable showcases the problem. These two men, a religious Pharisee and an unwelcome tax collector are in the temple to pray. The tax collector is non-welcoming because the people looked upon them as robbing their hard-earned money. On the other side, the Pharisee established the cultural, religious standard most people believed were living the way God intended.

As the parable highlights, the Pharisee prayed lifting himself up before God while the tax collector humbled himself. The Pharisee focused his opinion on himself before God by reiterating all the activity he does. He stresses his obedience to the law and compares his actions against others. In his eyes he is better than the others; better because he doesn’t do sinful acts; better because he performs religious activities expected of him. He emphasizes his obedience to prove himself more righteous than others.

On the other hand, the tax collector doesn’t look at himself and his actions. Instead he focuses outward toward God and places the emphasis on His mercy and not his personal actions. Jesus concluded the tax collector’ actions were better off than the Pharisee’s self promotion.

Bottom-line: It’s about Jesus Christ and not what we do. He clothes us with His righteousness and His actions justify us. We simple do what is expected of us as children of the living God. We don’t emphasize our obedience, our faith, nor our acts of service. Instead we place the entire focus on Jesus Christ who makes everything possible. He is our Priest, Savior, and Rabbi. We are his apprentice. He is the master, we are the student. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven has made this all possible.

We don’t emphasize our obedience. Instead we highlight and showcase Jesus Christ.

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

Thankfulness is Repentance in Action

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
1 Thessalonians 5:18
…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ESV.

Do you?

Do you give thanks in every situation? When times are good, like winning the Super Bowl, it sure is easy. But what about those times when the ugly comes knocking at your door? Even worse, when the world around you is dumping their negative junk upon you? When you begin to question your identity in Christ, your gifts and strengths, and even your worth to serve others? Do you still give thanks?

When you come to realize being thankful is simply acknowledging He is in charge and not you, it takes the burden from your shoulders. When being thankful reinforces your gratitude for what the Triune God has done, is doing, and will yet complete, you come to greatly appreciate His work in your life. When your thanks refocuses your mind and soul toward your Savior and Lord, it helps keep all things in perspective.

Repentance is simply returning your focus toward God. When you repent you acknowledge your need for a Savior. When you repent your aim is to reach out for the goodness of God. Your repentance turns your mind away from self and toward your blessed hope in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, when you extend gratitude and thankfulness, you are converting your repentance into action. When you read the Biblical psalms written by King David, you see how he acknowledges his sins but always ends with thankfulness in his Lord. We do likewise.

So be thankful. Always.

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