LOST

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , , ,

 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 ESV

 lost 2

Ever suffer from an identity crisis?

I think everyone does somewhere and someplace in their life. For humanity is wired to easily gravitate toward those situations and circumstances that feed the soul. When the soul is hungry and has difficulty discerning the good from the bad, it sometimes jumps unwisely into a frying pan that is softly simmering at the time. By the time the situation deepens, the frying pan is hot and getting out is more difficult than before. Sometimes it may even be too late.

Most people don’t realize they are lost until they are found. The comic who shares the joke of the father reassuring their family while driving the auto that everything is well and that they are making good time is like most of us. We are making great time but not sure where our destination is. We can’t admit we are lost. Pride gets in the way.

Generally speaking, we simply identify ourselves with what is most important in our life. We typically confuse the roles we play with our identify. And when the role ends, we go into crisis mode because our identity is taken away from us.

We see this when a person places their identity in their work. When they retire, they find themselves depressed and confused. When the children leave the nest, a mother seems lost not knowing what to do with her time. A mate places their identity with their partner and experiences a crisis when the relationship ends. When a person is identified with a winning sports team and then the career ends, what are they to do? Our identify is inappropriately placed in shifting roles which change over time.

As a believer, we are blessed to have our identity found in Christ. Our home is in Christ. In fact, when Christ died and arose again, he redeemed all humanity. He restored the relationship that was broken by Adam & Eve. Instead of wondering through the desert seeking refuge in temporary dwellings, he became our cornerstone. In baptism, we identify with him in his death, burial, and resurrection. In the breaking of bread and drinking of wine (communion), we identify with him. In the Body of Christ, we are his hands and feet, he is the head. In the age to come, he will share his throne with us. As believers, we are his royal, priestly children. Nothing will ever separate us from him.

So when you see someone that looks lost, pray for them. Pray that the Holy Spirit may lead them home. Home is wherever Jesus resides. Today Jesus resides in us via the Holy Spirit. He also resides in heaven where our reward and treasure awaits us.

We are most thankful that he came to restore and reconcile humanity with God. To give us a taste of what home looks like when we live within his domain. I’m not lost; but found. Found by Jesus who wants everyone to experience the real blessings found within the family of God. How about you? Are you still looking to return home or have you been found?

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 a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Why Do YOU Read the Bible?

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32 ESV

read 3

Why do YOU read the Scriptures?

To acquire knowledge…insight…wisdom.
To prepare a message for others.
To better understand yourself.
To discover what God is like.
To learn God’s Will.
To improve your walk with God.
To better relate with God.
To figure out your purpose in life.
To act more with integrity.
To receive blessings from God.
To equip yourself with spiritual know-how.
To practice spiritual disciplines.
To worship God more effectively.
To recognize truth more accurately.
To understand God’s mind.
To listen for God’s word.
To seek God’s plan for you.
To evaluate life’s situations from God’s perspective.
To discern good from evil.
To improve making choices.
To live life more fully.
To grow in the faith.
To experience more joy.
To understand God’s position on a matter.
To learn from history.
To better serve others.
To have a better marriage.
To rear productive, responsible children.
To enjoy God’s grace.
To become a better husband/wife.
To excel in business.
To better serve others.
To make money without being its slave.
To build more wealth for the sake of others.
To share life more effectively with others.
To communicate God’s plan of redemption more accurately.
To identify God’s work in people’s life.
To know God more intimately.

Whatever your reason, most likely depends on the season of your life. No matter your reason, it is always good to read, learn, integrate, and grow in Christ. The more you read the Bible, the more you discover about God, yourself, and the people around you. The more you discover, the more your relationship with God, yourself, and the people around you improve. The more these relationships improve, the more love, joy, and peace abounds in you, with you, and through you. Yes, God becomes more alive in you. You become more at peace with yourself and those around you. A win-win-win for everyone involved. So no matter what the reason, I’m glad you do!

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 a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Hope

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 ESV

hope 1

When times get challenging, when you are not sure which way to go, and you feel alone and misunderstood, praise God. You have come to the crossroads of hope.

Without pain, suffering, and misfortune, hope would only be a word. An illusion for the helpless. A battle cry for the defeated. Yet Paul writes that hope is the means of surviving the battlefields of life.

He points us to read Scripture for encouragement. To read how God intervenes in the lives of other believers. To discover the precepts and principles when applied opens the door of opportunity. For when we place our hope in Him, we discover the true meaning of love and faith.

He is faithful and demonstrates how every day. He also expresses love deeper than any person you and I will ever meet. When we place our hope in him, he opens his heart with us. He shares his abundance with us. He also disciplines us for our good. His behavior is a byproduct of his inherent love and faithfulness.

So when times get tough, don’t hope in solutions, money, or people. Instead, place your hope in him. To know him is more than knowing his hands and feet that provide for us. To hope in him is to know him; to know him is to hope in him. In Christ we have real, true hope (Hebrews 3:6).

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Founder & Executive Director
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 a Friend…Share Today’s Message!