Do Right Beliefs Really Matter?

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.   Romans 14:22-23 (MSG)

Your beliefs don’t save you. Only the grace of Jesus Christ through faith does that (Eph. 2:8). But your beliefs will determine your effectiveness in living life.

As your beliefs come closer to the truth, you come closer to reality. And as you face reality, you come to know and better interact with the God who created reality.

So beliefs will either move you closer to know God or further way from having a deeper relationship with HIM.

This is why I don’t get bent out of shape when people’s beliefs don’t agree with what I have proven to myself to be. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe they know something I don’t know. But then like an effective scientist, we test the hypothesis of the belief. If it is built on good logic and reason, then we will experiment with the matter. We will put it to the test. 

Of course, I will continue to keep my present beliefs in place until proven otherwise. Why? Because they have been tested over time. So there must be something else in the equation before I even begin to even consider the option to deconstruct or reconstruct them.

Beliefs are less important than the Faith you have in God. Belief typically has to do with truth in dealing with life. Faith though is trusting the God of reality that HE loves us, wants what is good for us, and will act on our behalf so HIS goodness may be manifested for all to witness. My faith is a gift from HIM and built on the evidence of Scripture, others, and my walk with Jesus.

So if someone doesn’t agree with your beliefs, that is OK. State your position and why. If he or she is a sibling in the family of God and walks with Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are in good hands. God will eventually show them or you which belief is more real than not. Until then, love them as God has loved you. Remember when we were ignorant and our beliefs were totally out of sync with God’s truth?

Life is a learning process preparing you for eternity. The hunt to determine which beliefs are pertinent and important and which are not may take a lifetime. But meanwhile, we are leaning on our God and building an intimate, interactive relationship with HIM. Which is of greater value? Having the right belief or having a strong relationship with our eternal Father? It is always your choice.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Saved From What?

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.   Matthew 7:14-15

Jesus saves, Esposito scores.

As a young teenager this was our joke line. (Esposito was a high scoring hockey player at the time). Whenever someone approached us about Jesus and salvation this is how we replied. At that time, there was no correlation between life as a teen and Jesus. The entire discussion was unrelated to a young man trying to enjoy life while growing up. Words like sin, heaven, hell, and regeneration were not even in my vocabulary.

The message of Jesus just wasn’t relevant. The same can be said today for many who look at the religious Jesus as a myth of yesterday. There is a vast communication problem between the Church and the world. In many ways it looks like the world is winning. But we know differently. We may lose the battle, but Jesus has already won the war.

And it starts with one person at a time hearing the relevant message of Jesus. As the spiritual cylinders click in alignment, one captures the vision and life is never the same.

Yes, if a young man approached me today and ask “saved from what”, this is how I may respond.

Jesus came to save you from yourself, from the world, and from HIS enemies that want to destroy you. Jesus wants you to experience your potential. To enjoy everything good and wholesome that HE has created for you. You are uniquely designed for a meaningful and purposeful life. But the world is brainwashing you.

There are those who are pawns of supernatural forces that want to make you subservient to them. They will do anything in their power to distract you from God’s purpose for your life. The battle is primary for your mind, soul, and spirit. If they capture your inner world, your outer world is theirs forever.

They come in many different forms. They are governments, corporate businesses, and non-profit organizations. They first capture your attention and then begin to play with your mind. They hook you through entertainment. The movies. The music. The fashion. The educational systems. The news media. They know who you are and present their products and services to get your attention. They promise you utopia, but never deliver. They are masters of their craft. But their lives are empty. They themselves are crying out for help, but are caught in the roller coaster of the machine. They are afraid to jump off. They are looking for a savior, but in all the wrong places.

Enter Jesus. The God-Man who walked the talk. Divinity clothed in skin. The first of HIS kind. A man who was tempted by power, money, and fame. But denied himself to serve HIS God and mission. HE fulfilled Scripture written hundreds of years before HIS arrival on earth. The probability of one person fulfilling all HE did is next to impossible. But HE did. HE proved to the world HE was and is who HE claimed to be. God resurrected HIM from the grave after a brutal death. Naturally impossible, but then only a God can supersede the physical laws of nature.

HE started a movement. HIS message of a way of life that allows people to live life now to the fullest began to transform the world. People joined the movement. Lives changed. Hope became alive. But somewhere in history, the message became distorted. The good news became abridged. The message of God’s kingdom being available now on earth disappeared. Instead, the message became focused on the future. Accept Jesus and you will live for eternity in heaven. The now was being postpone for tomorrow.

It is easier to recruit converts by promising them utopia. The Church message spun into a worldly religion and into the 21st century as a commodity to consume. The power of the gospel message dissipated. But the Spirit didn’t back away. Renewals occurred. People still experienced the power of the Spirit in their lives. God isn’t going away. People may move the institution away from God, but God still remains with HIS people.

Saved from what?

The Bible writes about sin. Sin is the outcome of living life apart from God. Without God, one will live a life that causes anxiety, worry, and loneliness. Do you know anyone suffering from such emotional behavior? Jesus came and revealed a way of life to save one from such negative traits.

He brought heaven to earth via HIS kingdom. HE made HIS kingdom available for everyone. But you must first submit your kingdom under HIS authority. When you do, HE will bring HIS Father and Spirit with HIM to live HIS life in and through you. You will discover a way of life that produces real freedom and fulfillment. You will flourish emotionally. You will produce Godly fruit through your life. HIS love, joy, and peace will become the anchor of your soul. You will belong to a family who reigns in life.

What HE saves you from are the poisons this world throws at you and your neighbor. You find your spirit grows more and more like HIS. You develop defenses to protect yourself from the enemy. You even develop a swagger in your walk. You have come to know your heavenly Father. You have a Friend in Jesus. You also have a coach and trainer in the Holy Spirit. You are in good hands no matter what happens in this life. For you are HIS child. You get to play on HIS turf. And you know you have a home for eternity with HIM.

What does Jesus save you from? HE saves you from yourself and HIS enemies so you may live life to the fullest with HIM now and for all eternity.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Practicing Godliness

Dr. Mike 2024, Uncategorized , , ,

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.   1 Timothy 4:7-8

What if we pursue godliness with the same intensity as career professionals? As athletes craft their trade. As body builders train themselves for maximum performance.

How would that change your life?

Yet, how many of us are like the weekend athlete? We dream of the opportunity to play like a professional. But are unwilling to commit and pay the price of change. We treat the activity as a hobby and not a life-commitment. Yet is not training for godliness what being an apprentice of Jesus is about?

The challenge many of us may have is capturing a picture of what godliness looks like. Few of us have had healthy role models to emulate. The ones we may have experienced were probably religious zealots. They caused more pain and sorrow in everyone’s life. They were the anti-role models. The encounter with them left us with a bitter taste in our mouth.

But, there are those of us who witness and shared time with godly people. They exemplified the life of the Biblical Jesus. We are most grateful. We had a positive glimpse of the character of God in action.

Yet God doesn’t leave us on our own. When one comes to know the Triune God, Father/Son/Spirit, one slowly discovers a life worth imitating. Though God is invisible, HE leaves HIS markings all around us.

The beauty of creation. The design and operation of the human body. The strategic plan of salvation. Everything around us shows off HIS workmanship. Everything made is a reflection of HIM.

So when we acknowledge humans are made to reflect HIS image, the groundwork is laid. The goal now is to become more like HIM. The question is how?

Enter Jesus Christ. When we study into HIS life, we witness God in the flesh. Jesus stated when you look at HIM you are also looking at our Father God. When one knows Jesus has been resurrected and now lives to intercede for us, we have a high priest to minister us. We also allow the Holy Spirit entrance into our heart. We now have a coach ready to assist us to make godliness real in our life.

How? By practicing God’s ways in the routine of everyday life.

We may start with the basics. Look at how the early church in Acts 2 practiced godliness. They began to train themselves through four basic disciplines. They gain knowledge under the teaching of the apostles. They shared meals together. They fellowship together. They prayed. Over the centuries, different saints also practiced other disciplines found in the Bible. They included meditation, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, fasting, and, silence. There are many more practices than these. These are just a few for one to select from depending how the Spirit is working with you. 

One also needs to be careful and not turn the practice into a legalistic approach to living. Instead, the discipline is a way to attune yourself to God and HIS grace. The process is an indirect way of strengthening one’s relationship with the living God. As one does, one finds themselves slowly becoming more like HIM in character. Iron sharpens iron and one person sharpens another is a Biblical proverb. The same can be said about practicing godliness. The more we hang out with Father/Son/Spirit, the more we will catch HIS ways.

In fact, one of my favorite disciplines is to live under the presence of Jesus and HIS Kingdom in every area of my life. Yes, there are many moments when the reality hits that I haven’t totally surrender my all to HIM. That always reminds me that there is much work HE has yet to do in me. It keeps me humble and appreciating HIS grace on a regular basis. As we surrender each corner of our kingdom, HE continues to share HIS vast richness of life with us each day. Yes we practice every day to be prepared for the moment of truth. For we have learned that practicing godliness is good for daily living and for the life to come.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Books By Dr. Mike:

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Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved