Christian Culture is Not the Kingdom of God

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.ESV.

 

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A debate among the early church saints about whether or not it is OK to eat unclean food led the apostle Paul to write in a letter which we now classify as the fourteen chapter in the Book of Romans.  The issue included whether or not it is more spiritual to be a vegetarian or not. Paul’s conclusion emphasize that the fruit of God’s Kingdom is not food and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy.

For most of us who have never been exposed to God’s Kingdom, maybe we should hold off judgment until we truly experience the real thing. The closest we may have come would most likely be a Sunday church service among other Christians. Yet even there God’s Kingdom may not be fully operating. Instead we witness a culture where everyone speaks and acts in a Camelot fashion. So where do we go to discover the real McCoy?

The Kingdom of God is HIS reign. Wherever people allow God to be the center of their lives; where HE is served first within all relationships and transactions; where HE is the final judge on all matters; where our hearts and minds and souls yield to HIS Word, HIS priorities, and HIS values; not as we determine but as it is.

Reality composes of knowing HIM. When we gain knowledge of HIS ways, we begin to see HIS Spirit at work in our lives and the lives of others; we begin to experience life the way HE intended to be. As we learn to pray and ask and listen, we begin to see our requests actualized. Dumbfounded but in wonder, we become more and more amazed at HIS ability to bring events into reality.

So where do we find the real McCoy?

Wherever HIS people live, breathe, and serve under the authority of their King Jesus, HE is there. And not only is HE present, but the fruit of the Spirit grows. Like a tree that blooms in the spring time, the impact of HIS Kingdom becomes noticeably alive. It could be in a local church service, or a family gathering, or even in the marketplace at work. What is recognized are the manifestations of God’s Spirit sprouting from the hearts, minds, and souls of people who yield themselves to their King.  That is where you will find His Kingdom.

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 2013-2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

 

Today, I Get To…

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.” Ecclesiastes 5:18 ESV.

celebrate-1

 

Experience God’s love…

Play in our Dad’s worldwide sandbox…

Celebrate another day of discovery…

Communicate with the Creator of Life…

Enjoy the beauty of creation…

Serve others through work…

Work for his glory…

Earn income by serving others…

Pay bills…

Drink a cool glass of water…

Eat candy, cake, and cookies…

Smell chocolate covered raspberries…

Hug my bride…

Skype with my daughter…

Ride a bicycle for pleasure and health…

Drive a car to the supermarket…

Plant a shrub…

Wash the windows…

Re-set the remote controller…

Watch football…

Read a book…

Trade the futures market…

Study passages from the Bible…

Attend a small Bible Study group…

Pray for our family, friends, and country…

Rejoice with a friend’s accomplishments…

Grieve over the loss of a friend…

Exercise compassion for another…

Extend God’s love with everyone we meet…

 

What about you? What are you fortunate, blessed, and grateful to do today?

(Reprinted in honor of Thanksgiving – originally published 1/6/17)

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 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Your Vocation Is Your Ministry

1 Peter 4:10
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ESV.

One of the more difficult aspects of Christ-like living is restructuring our thinking. It is said that re-learning takes three times more effort than learning it correctly in the beginning. For most of us, we are typically set in our habits, thought patterns, and perceptions within the first 20% of our lifetime. The remainder years we either spend fine tuning them or redressing them. As a Believer, we most likely will spend more time morphing into a new creation where our new friends and family members wouldn’t even recognize the old person of yesterday.

One of the areas we slowly begin to change is our perception of ministry. Initially we may see ministry as something the church leadership does. Later we may see ministry as those other people helping the less fortunate. It is only later that we see ministry more broadly as simply serving those around us.

Somewhere in time we in the western world have been educated to believe that ministry is something spiritual and every other occupation as secular. Yet the Bible shows us that God sees everything as spiritual AND physical. He doesn’t segregate the two. He knows we need both the physical elements to live and breathe and the Spirit to live up to our human potential.

A good example is work.

How does God provide food, clothing, and shelter to people? Isn’t it through people who are gifted in the specialties of their roles within the business community? As these people serve one another are they not exercising their gifts in their service for one another?

When the early Church ordained deacons to serve the widows and orphans they selected men full of the Spirit of God and gifted for the responsibilities. God has ordained the institutions for the role of providing human care. From government, family, education, medical, law, business, entertainment, etc., God provides a place for all of us to serve one another with the gifts He has graced us with.

So the next time you feel less worthy in your vocation, remember God has gifted you to serve others. Your role is just as important as any pastor or church minister in the eyes of God. Therefore ask yourself, how can you best serve others in your marketplace?

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 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved