Being Jesus-Centered

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , , , ,
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

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What is the foundation you build your life on?

Do you pick and choose from what you see in the culture around you? Do you adhere to a specific philosophy of a person or teacher? Whatever your reply, if the answer is anything other than Jesus Christ, you haven’t yet found your center for real, fruitful, enjoyable living. Not as the world shows it; but as God designed you and I for maximum utopia.

When you analyze many of the various religions, teachings, and beliefs around the world, most of them will have some Biblical truth included. That is why certain teachings agree with many of Jesus’ statements. For example, Confucius stated the Golden Rule hundreds of years before Christ. This isn’t anything new. The fact is Reality is built around Jesus’ existence; not the other way around. Since He lived before the foundation of the world as one of the Godhead, His truth has always existed.

To be Jesus-Centered is more than just making him #1 in your life. It is including him in every decision one makes. That includes all your relationships, business arrangements, educational goals, career paths, family ties, marriage partnerships, etc.

To be Jesus-Centered is allowing him full access into the secret chambers of your heart. You are free to stand physically, spiritually, and mentally naked before him. You are transparent. You open your values, beliefs, and goals for his redeeming work.

To be Jesus-Centered is viewing the world through his eyes. It is serving others from Christ’s viewpoint. It is letting him walk along side us through our daily routine. It is having a friend, companion, and associate with us throughout the day.

To be Jesus-Centered is already knowing His answer even while you ask.

To be Jesus-Centered is surrendering your rights in exchange for his imprint into your life.

To be Jesus-Centered is to be home with him in mind, spirit, and soul.

To be Jesus-Centered is to have the north star always shining brightly in your life.

To be Jesus-Centered is to find yourself emulating his spiritual power toward others.

Until one stops playing religion, throws out all the do’s and don’t of playing cultural niceness, and invites Jesus to become the center of one’s life, one hasn’t tasted the fruit of how life was truly designed for a more abundant experience. How about you? Have you asked our Heavenly Dad to show you how Jesus can become the center of your life?

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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Improve Your Focus

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

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Ever walk into a middle of a movie without knowing the plot, main characters, and setting?

Ever climb a ladder to the top only to find the ladder was on the wrong wall?

Ever take a shortcut only to find yourself in a dead-end street?

If we have lived long enough, most of us will have experienced one of these three scenarios. It is only afterwards the realization hits us that we didn’t have the proper information at our disposal. We may have sincerely believed we knew what we were doing at the time, but the outcome proved otherwise. Hindsight is 20/20.

Isaiah writes that we behave with God the same way. We think we have it all figured out. We have an advance degree from a prestigious university. We have been successful in business. People seek us out for our opinion. We are known throughout the circuit as an expert in our field. Yet what we know is little in comparison to the God who created the little world you live in.

Think about it: God doesn’t need a degree to prove his mental capacity. God doesn’t need money to acquire buildings, land, or food. And God doesn’t need people to do his work for him.

At times it seems we act like we know the answer when in reality we are probably more lost, confused, and ignorant than the next person. In short, we inexcusably spend valuable time chasing after the low hanging fruit instead of developing a relationship with the owner. We pursue love, joy, and peace instead of the Source. We search for a new experience, mate, or career thinking it will give us the satisfaction we seek instead of the Planner of Life. Our focus is on the benefits rather than the Benefactor.

If you want the abundant life, stop chasing it. Instead refocus your heart, mind, and soul to know Him who made everything possible. For when you start hanging out with the Lord of Lords, you can’t help become more like Him. He changes you. It is not what you do but instead who you do it with that matters. When you learn to walk 24/7 with the King of Kings, your relationships will bloom. Your love life will grow. Your focus becomes to please Him. Not so you can attain an abundant life. But so you can hang out with the Abundant One. There is no other place you would rather be.  Your focus is on Him.

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!

 

 

He is Greater Than I

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
” He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV

greater1

Someplace, somewhere, sometime we shall all suffer from a severe case of stupidity. Most often it occurs when we think we have the world in the palm of our hand. The symptoms are very noticeable. Typically we feel invincible. We feel powerful. We feel in control of our destiny. Than something happens. Reality strikes. We are knocked off our high horse. Our mortality bites us.

It takes approximately three minutes without air for life to stop. It takes approximately 3 days without water for bodily organs to begin shutting down. And it takes about 3 weeks without food when the body likewise starts shutting down. What all this means is that you and I are no gods. Our physical life had a beginning and will one day end. We are not born immortal. Immortality is a gift. A gift that comes from someone who is greater, bigger, and stronger than you and I.

John the Baptist knew that his mission was to introduce Jesus the Messiah. John was not the main event. His preaching and baptizing was to prepare the people for the arrival of the Jewish King. When Jesus arrived and began to gather a following larger than John’s, he took to a teaching moment which is now quoted as John 3:30.

Jesus’ mission was to grow. John’s was to become smaller. His fame was to step aside for Jesus’ fame. His story was now to move back into the rear while Jesus’ took over the narrative. He didn’t complain. He didn’t sulk. He simply acknowledged his work was done. A ministry that lasted for a very short time. In today’s measurement of organizational success some would say a failure. Yet in Jesus’ eyes, John fulfilled his mission and later praised him among all men (MT. 11:11).

What lesson do we learned from this? It is not about the size, length, or impact of your service to others. Instead it is about being faithful to the one who sends you. It is realizing where your strength, sustenance, and resources come from. It is acknowledging who you are accountable to.  When all is said and done, most of us will come to the realization that He is greater than any person. Then it becomes the question, what are you going to do about it?

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!