Sin’s Red-line

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”   Mark 14:38

When do you know you have crossed the line with sin?

I remember once hearing Dallas Willard discuss the process of sin. He explained the difference between a bad thought, temptation, and the actual sin. His teaching help clarify the process. He made us more aware to catch oneself before entering the alienation minefield. He outlined the process as three levels.

First there is the sinful thought that enters your mind. This is not sin. This is only the idea or concept. The question is what will you do with the thought.

If the thought is not removed, then the person will begin to move into the temptation level. This is where your thought meets the inclination to perform. You haven’t completed the act, but you are now leaning toward the possibility. The moment of truth has arrived for a decision. Will you or will you not? This is what temptation is.

If your character and spiritual formation is strong, you will likely choose wisely. The temptation will only be a temporary lure. You know the ugliness of sin and will refrain from the enticement. What we may not realize at first is sin also lives within our habits. We have unbeknownst in most cases trained our habits to sin. This is why we need to put into practice regular means of grace.

But if you are weak and unprepared with little character strength, what then? For sin is when you act out your thought and inclination. It is sin even if you don’t perform the deed but would do so if the conditions were right. This is why Jesus said if you had lust in your heart you have already committed the sin. The challenge is to train oneself in godliness. To have the willpower to push yourself away from the temptation. And humanity apart from God fails at it.

One needs to be born again with the Spirit of God to regenerate the heart. Then pursue a life of sanctification. This is the process to transform the human spirit and will after the likeness of Jesus Christ. This path is a high adventure with failures and successes. As we put forth the effort, God supplies us with HIS grace in the areas we are currently failing at. But over time, as we lean more and more on HIM, the inner soul is being modified after the character of Jesus himself. And we don’t take credit for the success. For we know it is only because of the grace from God we succeed.

Yes, this is a long process. But we know we are HIS workmanship. So whatever failure and successes we experience is a reflection of our weakness or HIS glory. But it requires our cooperation. If we keep failing, is it because we are not cooperating with HIM? Do we need to do more business with HIM? Or don’t we understand the life of a disciple of HIS? But then again, maybe you are becoming more like HIM than you realize. You may have higher expectations of yourself than God has of you. Maybe HE is working on something else. All this while you are struggling with what you consider more important. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, focus on Jesus. Learn from HIM. Integrate all you learn into your everyday life. And watch as God grows you into HIS masterpiece.

And yes, it helps when you know where the red-line is in your choices.

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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Born to Reign

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , , ,

 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”    Gn. 1:28

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For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.   Romans 5:17

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 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.   Revelations 20:6

Dallas Willard often spoke about Christ-followers being trained to reign. He would refer to the top two Scriptures. I added the third. All three take into account that humans are responsible to manage earth’s resources. This includes the environment as well as the inhabitants. The biggest challenge is us humans. Dallas loved to remind us that each of us has a kingdom. The question is whether our kingdom will surrender to Jesus’ Kingdom.

God’s vision to share HIS universe with each of us having a leadership role is breathtaking. HE is preparing a people to rule in HIS government HIS way. We start by surrendering our will in allegiance to HIS. We submit our willpower under HIS. We accept HIS authority in our life. As HIS subject, we become ambassadors of HIS Kingdom. We learn to serve others HIS way. We learn to integrate our faith with our personality into work which glorifies HIM. And HIS ways also benefits those around us.

We welcome HIS Spirit into ours. We become more like HIM in character and attitude. Yet we add our uniqueness into HIS story. Jesus always remains the main character. We support HIM and HIS government in the process. HE gives us greater meaning and purpose for our daily routines. As more and more people capture the vision and partake in HIS story, the more HIS Spirit emanates around us.

Our daily activities are training us to reign. As Christ-followers, we first learn to follow our Rabbi. As HIS apprentice, we learn to govern ourselves. We build boundaries and habits of Christlike leadership. As spouses, we learn to submit with one another like the Trinity does. As parents, we learn to govern our family. We practice the dictates of HIS Kingdom to prepare our children for adulthood. In the marketplace, we accept responsibility and accountability for the work we do. Our mutual mission is to work with others toward satisfying customer desires. We do so from a Christlike perspective. We serve them. We add value in their life. Those with organizational leadership skills may take on greater responsibilities. They may learn to govern the entire organization. Again, we learn to govern like Jesus. We are being prepared to reign with HIM for eternity.

Our desire today is to become more and more like HIM. Wherever we are placed, we teach the Jesus Way. We get to evangelize without speaking a word. Our actions align with God’s Kingdom.

This is the practical side of Christianity. Learning to lead like Jesus. Learning to govern one self and others like Jesus. As we do our regular every day work, HE is preparing you and I for greater service in HIS Kingdom. To govern today and forever.

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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Life Is Hard

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , ,

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.   Romans 12:12

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…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.   Acts 14:22

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I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33

Why are we shocked when distress times arise? When we are caught in a web of suffering? When the affliction seems so overbearing? Yes, life is hard.

I recall having a heated discussion with my mother around my mid-thirties over the way she raised me. Don’t get me wrong, I had a very good upbringing. Educated in private schools. Raised with character traits which later produced future successes. Foundational values which gave me a head start in life.

But yet, I was naïve about the world around me. I thought life was a formula. Work hard and you will succeed. But as you enter the world, you realize its chaotic with unforgiving ways to swallow up new victims. It’s an ever-changing jungle. It can be brutal. Survival is job one. Trust is hard to find. Truth is a misnomer. Only results matter. Everything else is noise. You are the target of someone else’s fear or greed. There are days you feel like you are being squeezed by a large finger.

Failure is inevitable. If one doesn’t learn how to turn lemons into lemonade, one becomes dinner for a large pig. The large hogs chew up their little piggies. There is no mercy in the jungle of life. If one enters the marketplace without a defense armor, one is dismantled and thrown away. No pity for the weak.

Yes, life is hard. But Jesus gives us the equipment not only to survive in the jungle of life, but to thrive.

No, you will still face strong tribulations. You will still be persecuted. You will still have emotional roller coaster rides. But you will find faith and hope through the process. For your foundation is built on the rock of Jesus. You know HE has your behind. HE also walks along with you through the ordeal. In fact, HE has already gone before you so you know following HIM will lead you through a better path.

You know each trial allows you to invest more time with HIM. To watch HIM battle for you through the process. To learn more about HIS ways. And as you come out on the other end, you look back and notice the change in your character. You are more patient. Your trust in HIM grows. Your assurance of the relationship with HIM becomes stronger. You soon learn that the jungle of life is designed to bring you closer to HIM. To allow HIS Kingdom ways to become more implanted into your Being.

As much as you hated the pain and thrashing you went through, you are thankful. You realize it was probably the most merciful way for you to develop the willpower pattern after HIM. You soon acknowledge your ordeal only made you stronger in HIM. Though you don’t ever want to go through that trial again, you are thankful you did it with HIM.

Yes, life is hard. Deliberately hard for our sake and for the sake of others. How else can a loving God best prepare HIS children for the eternal role HE has for them in HIS Kingdom?

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