Savior

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Philippians 3:20 ESV

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As we gear up for another political season to elect the next president of these United States, we are reminded as God’s children that we hold dual citizenship – citizens of God’s Kingdom and citizens of the United States. As citizens of the United States we have the privilege to add our vote for the candidate we strongly believe may best serve this country at this time. However, as citizens of God’s family Kingdom, we already have acknowledged our King and gladly serve him faithfully for His glory and for the sake of others.

Yet for many people who do not have an abiding relationship with King Jesus, they still seek a hero or savior to give them the life they desire. Whether the candidate is a democrat, republican, or an independent doesn’t really matter. What typically matters is electing a person who will give them what they believe is in their best interest. In other words, they seek someone to save them. A savior.

There a many people who claim they can save you. But can they?

Then there are people who state they don’t need a savior. That they have everything under control. That a savior is for those unfortunate weak people. It always amazes me when a person who has everything that they ever wanted suddenly finds themselves without. How they suddenly react in crisis mode realizing for the first time that they need help beyond themselves.

The other day a person I know made a statement that would shock some people. She is one of those persons who has lived a life doing all the things one must do to be healthy. She eats wholesome, natural foods. She exercises. She prays and practices daily devotionals. She has crossed her “T’s” and marked her “X’s” on every life test that came her way. If you had to grade her performance, she would receive an “A+.” Yet her health is failing her. Her list of ailments are enough for a dozen people to manage. It is not that she hasn’t done everything one must do to maintain her health, it is simply she inherited dysfunctional DNA from her generational tree. Her statement? “I do everything one possible can to maintain good health. Yet suffer. Others abuse themselves and live a long, prosperous life. It’s not fair.”

No, Life is not fair. Which is a reason we need a Savior. Life dumps unexpected crap on each one of us. Which is a reason we need a Savior. This life stops at the grave. Which is a reason we need a Savior. Without a Savior, we are all dead. We may be walking, talking, and breathing. But real, enjoyable life escapes us now and the afterlife becomes a crap shoot.

Saviors come in many different packages. The one I choose to hang my hat with is Jesus Christ. He alone has proven to me over and over again that He is my Savior and the Savior of the entire world. How about 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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Evil

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms ,

With the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France, I did a short, old-fashion review from the Bible on the word evil. Rather than write something in my own words, today’s blog is simply a review of these Scriptures.

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“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 ESV

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.” Proverbs 28:5 ESV

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.” Proverbs 12:20 ESV

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 ESV

“Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.” Isaiah 59:7 ESV

“Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:15 ESV

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:10 ESV

“…do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” Zechariah 8:17 ESV

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” Matthew 12:34-35 ESV

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:19

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” Romans 12:21 ESV

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Romans 12:9 ESV

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

“Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

“The Lord will rescue me (Paul) from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever.” Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 ESV

“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11 ESV

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 your Friends…Share Today’s Message!

Ignorance

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , , ,

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 ESV

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How do you handle ignorant people? Do you ridicule them? Do you condemn them? Or do you wave them away as stupid?

What did Jesus teach us?

When he was being crucified, he looked at the people initiating the act and forgave them. Though they were simply following orders, they had no knowledge of who Jesus was or that an innocent man was being condemned. Jesus didn’t eternally judge them. He didn’t threaten them. Nor did he belittle them. Instead he forgave them.

How about us? How do we respond? What will it take to forgive those who are ignorant of their actions toward us?

Ignorance is bliss for the self only because God’s grace is being extended to you. Otherwise, ignorance causes one to miss out on life’s good things. When ignorance is replaced with true knowledge, Reality takes charge. From Reality one can build on a sure foundation. Otherwise one is living a lie built on a shifting foundation that will eventually fail.

Forgiveness leads to repentance. So when ignorance loses its hold, God’s love grows from the inside-out. Or as most eventually learn: Ignorance is bliss only until Reality takes over.

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 your Friends…Share Today’s Message!