Brighten Your Corner of the World

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.Matt.5:16 ESV.

Life is a dance with the Almighty. As you yield your heart and follow His lead around the dance floor of life, you find yourself growing in the grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your countenance begins to change. Over time, those previous broken areas of your life are now radiant with a newness and vibrancy for life. You have come to the place where you realize that the Triune God actually loves you and lives in you.

He not only lives in you, but he is working to transform you from the inside-out. The more you deny yourself for His name sake, the more His light shines through. The more you submit yourself to His healing touch, the more His light radiates through the pain. When you come to realize that the only good within any person is what God produces, the quicker you begin to experience the full riches of His glory.

God especially loves to share Himself with those who draw close to Him (James 4:8). So as He opens our eyes to serve others, He will provide the means. As He opens our ears to hear, His Spirit leads us how to best reply. As He leads us into opportunities to do good, we follow with assurance.

The light others see is God’s presence shining through the broken jars of humanity (2 Corinthians 4:7). We no longer hide God’s work in us and through us. We are not even concern whether our right hand knows what our left hand is doing (Matt. 6:3). Instead, we just let God’s love and grace lead us to do good work for His glory. The outcome is His light shining through for others to see. When you follow the lead of the Greatest Dancer in your corner of the world, people will notice. And you don’t even have to try to be noticed. Just let the light of Jesus shine through you each and every day.

Happy Easter!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
 *  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

 

Biblical Bias

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Kingdom Paradigms ,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28 ESV.

We all read Scripture from a personal bias. Which leads to the question, “what is yours?”  Over the years in different seasons of life, we probably have read the Bible from multiple worldviews. Most of us initially read Scriptures from a 21st Century western civilization thought pattern. Eventually over time, we may start to read the Word from a Jewish Christian perspective. Then again, others may read from a feminist or humanistic platform. Than others from a denominational background. Or more prevalent today, from a combination of multiple-denominational and non-denominational teachings. The question for today though is “what is your personal bias?”

It is good to know for two reasons. One, it helps you identify different positions that your brothers and sisters in the Lord have taken; and secondly, it helps you to stay humble realizing that there is a possibility you may be in error and therefore be open to learn from others.

Today I lean heavily toward a Jesus Centered, Incarnate Triune God worldview. This is my bias. So when I read Scripture, I use this as my filter to clarify those difficult sections and gain more knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is in relationship with His Father and with humanity.

For example, take the Scripture, “Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom.16:16).” Depending on one’s view, a different understanding will arise on what a holy kiss looks like. Some of our Arminian friends may explain it as a righteous kiss since they associate holiness with righteousness. Again, our humanistic or feminist sister may view a holy kiss as one with passion or maybe one that shows respect toward others. Then again, some of our denominational buddies would say it is a command and should be done today. Others agree but establish other norms such as no kissing between the sexes. Some say it was a custom of Biblical times but in the western civilization of the 21st century we may shake hands or hug to show the same love and respect the holy kiss is meant to portray.

No matter one’s preference, one still needs to understand the culture of the time period being covered to determine the application for today’s Believer. Some principles are eternal and others are for specific events and times. The kiss is still the cultural norm in the middle-eastern countries today where men and women greet one another with a kiss on both cheeks. However in America, we typically hug or shake hands depending on how well we know the other party. So no matter what your preference, the principle is to extend a Godly greeting to the other. Since God is holy and holiness is a combination of love, joy, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (among a multitude of other positive attributes), the holy kiss of the 1st century is still a holy greeting in the 21st century. The attitude and heart of the greeting is the measuring stick; not the mechanical means employed.

So what does this all mean?  Simply know your bias and recognize the bias of others when you read and employ the Scripture in everyday life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
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!

Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Hooks of Expectation

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ, Traps
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 ESV.

One of the best ways to build a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father is through prayer. To take the time and listen what He has for you and to empty your heart before him is a life-building relationship event. There is no better way to quickly capture the realization that God cares for you and wants what is best for you.

One of the obstacles though you will need to overcome is trapping yourself with your expectations. Many times we will go before our Father and ask for something specifically believing it is the best solution to the problem. However, instead of delivering the answer the way we expect, God maneuvers the outcome in a substantially different way. Because it is not the way we want it, we may quickly become angry with God and give up on Him. Yet in hindsight, we truly recognize that the outcome was better than we could have ever expected.

These hooks of expectations are both a blessing and a curse. To appreciate the blessing, we need to be open to the final outcome. If we limit God to workout events within our little box, it can easily become a curse. God is vastly larger than any box or solution we come up with. His ways impact a multitude of people and events and purposes. Yet He cares for you and wants you to join Him in His adventures. But you have to be flexible and open.

In Acts three, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. There they met a lame man. The lame man ask them for money. Based on Peter’s and John’s reply, he expected to receive some remuneration. However, instead of a monetary blessing, the man experienced complete healing.

The outcome was more than he expected. So when we go to God, don’t limit yourself with your expectations. Instead allow Him to share His generous heart with you. Not only will you be pleasantly surprised, but you will come to know Him who is more than you ever realized.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
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!

Copyright 2017 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved