Kingdom Actions #1

Dr. Mike Kingdom Actions

Romans 15:1
  • We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.ESV.

 

This morning while biking I experienced God’s Kingdom in action. The bike path takes us through a public park which maintains a 1/2 mile circular track for runners and bikers. No vehicles allowed. However today, a F-150 pickup truck decided to jump onto the track as a short-cut to the football field.  As the truck came toward me, it brought back memories of those early childhood bike games we played in the parking lot next to the library. It was called “chicken.”

Two 8 or 9 year old boys would line up their bikes across from each other on each end of the parking lot. We would count to three and ride directly toward each other at full speed. The one who chicken-out by turning away at the last minute to avoid a collision would be the loser. The other would be the winner through default.  I never avoided the collision as a youth.

Today as the maintenance truck sped toward me, my youthful “chicken” mentality initially kicked-in. However, the grown up adult mind quickly came back as I realized a bike collision into a moving truck would cause more damage to me than he. Therefore I was ready to get off the cement trail unto the grass knob and give the heavy metal truck the right-of-way. However, just then  the truck turned itself off the trail onto the grassy knob allowing me to continue without turning. The stronger gave way for the weaker.

A smile then crossed my face. I just witnessed God’s kingdom in action.  Those of us who are stronger, those of us in position of leadership, those of us who have more, need to serve those with less. When the opportunity presents itself, we are to step aside and help those who are weaker. Instead of lording over those who are weaker, we are to serve them.

It may have been a pickup truck and bike, but it was a friendly reminder that God’s ways work. How about your world? Where do you see God’s kingdom in action?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 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 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

 

 

Be The Message

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.ESV.

As a rabbi breathes the text, lives the text, and teaches the text, so do their disciples.  The most powerful sermons are always unspoken. The best disciple-making method is simply to be the message. Are you living the message?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 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

Confidence

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
Hebrews 10:35
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.ESV.

Ever noticed how some people exude confidence no matter the situation? Whereas others fidget, hesitate, and cast doubt without any effort. Confidence is the assurance of knowing who you are; especially after your strengths and weaknesses are battle tested. But more importantly, great confidence comes when you truly know God really loves you, goes before you, and will carry you when times are tough based on continual experience. Real confidence is the balance between knowing yourself and knowing your Maker.

Today many people have a false illusion of how real confidence is developed. Parents raise their children under the illusion of self-esteem. Whether Johnny or Susie fail or succeed, they create the illusion that their child is the best. Johnny may run the race and finish last, but instead of facing the reality of failure and learning from it, parents discard the truth for wanting to make the child feel good about themselves. They confuse performance with self-worth and end up damaging the child’s natural inclination. Instead of helping the child discover their real identity in Christ, we create a platform of measuring their self-worth through performance.

The same in our relationship with Jesus. We grow in confidence as we lean on him and witness how he responds to our dilemma. He may not change our circumstances, but will always provide a way for us to move through it. Afterward we will come to know more about ourselves and substantially more about our Lord.

Confidence is developed when we fail, learn from it, and grow from it. We learn how to succeed and how to properly fail. We learn humility along with confidence. Humility in understanding who we are in Christ and always confident in Him.

No we don’t need false adoration, nor flattery to feel good about ourselves. We just need to know who we are in Christ and trust him to take us through the ups and downs of life. Through this sanctifying process, we gain confidence and assurance. We truly come to experience, realize, and know His grip on our life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 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