Yes, Everyone

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

1 Thessalonians 5:15

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (ESV)

This Scripture reminds us that retaliation is not the behavior of a Christ-follower. Instead, we are to do good for everyone; including those who cause evil upon us. In fact, these Words enforce the fact that we are to be intentional in our behavior toward all people – doing something good for them.

In other words, every person you meet today is a candidate to experience goodness from you.

A few of the people you meet today will be those who you already know. Others will be total strangers. Those you know you will have the advantage of knowing how to best provide some “goodness” into their life. You will have a leg up to know what their love language includes (Dr. Gary Chapman’s book “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts). Whether they are words of affirmation, quality time spent with them, acts of service, gifts, or physical touch. If you don’t know which love language they communicate through, then you don’t know them as well as you think you do.

If they are strangers, you can simply express the love of God through good manners and behavior by showing them respect. Stepping aside and letting them go first is a simple gesture of a servant heart. Yes, that includes when driving the roads and allowing the aggressive ones jump in front of you. And also, a smile or word of acknowledgement goes a long way; especially for those waiting in long lines.

When you spend time with a person, and truly begin to understand them, your godly heart will begin to find ways to express the love of Christ through you. The challenge will come when those you meet have caused you harm in some manner. Your inclination is to return evil with evil. To retaliate in a revengeful mood is a continuation of evil. To break the chain of evilness requires the love of God in you taking the lead to extend grace upon those who don’t deserve grace: just as Jesus did for you.

So, if you are in a good mood today, or even woke up in a bad mood, take the challenge of looking today at each person you meet with the opportunity to do something of value. A good word, expression, attitude, or behavior response goes a long way in expressing the love of God with others. Isn’t that what an ambassador of God’s Kingdom is about? 

Everyone is a candidate today of being touched by God’s Spirit by you through you. Seek to do good to one another, and the Holy Spirit will lead you along the way.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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You

Dr. Mike 2022 , ,

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You are God’s image bearer. You reflect HIS Glory. Therefore, your value as a person is determined by your Creator.

Yes, you and every person you meet reflects a portion of God’s attributes and value.

Whether you are male or female, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, born or unborn, as a human agency, you were made to reflect God’s image and glory for the world to witness. Your value comes from HIM.

God so strongly emphasizes this point; HE gave decrees throughout Scripture to refrain mankind to create or make a stone or metal image of either HIMSELF or people (Deut. 4:16) to worship. Nothing was and is to replace mankind as image bearers of Almighty God which you and I are.

When you realize your life was designed to be a witness for others to represent HIM before all of creation, your attitude and focus becomes more aligned with HIS. As you slowly taste life from HIS perspective, you want more of HIM involved in your daily life. Your desire is to know more about HIM. Your aim is to become HIS student. Your hope is to become more like HIM. Overtime, HE, and you develop a Father/Child relationship. HE becomes your role model.

Life takes on new meaning. Every person you meet is a walking billboard of God Almighty. Every person has good qualities which allows you to learn more who God IS. Every person also has qualities which allows you to learn the opposite of who HE IS. For though each person is made in HIS image, we have all acquired godless attributes caused by the sin virus which weigh us down. But HE in HIS magnificent foresight, has already dealt with the situation through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, we have the perfect representation of God. As a man-God, HE walked the earth living a sinless life by taking on our humanity within HIM and killing the penalty of SIN at HIS crucifixion. HE overcame life’s tribulations, even death at HIS resurrection, so that you and I may have life now and for all eternity. HIS life and story are the good news for all image bearers.

Jesus opened the door for every person to have a direct relationship with HIS Father God. Everything HE did was to include you within HIS family. But you need to accept this fact, be reconciled to HIM, and live out the family culture.

Until then, you will find yourself struggling to discover who you are, looking for love, joy, and peace in all the wrong places, and in the process of fighting your true birthright, you most likely will become more despondent and angrier at yourself and those around you.

The real you is desirous to be fully released. But you need to allow your Creator access into the inner chamber of your heart. He will not force HIMSELF upon you. He respects you because HE respects HIMSELF. He made you in HIS image and has wired you for a purpose. Why not let HIM fully maximize your human and eternal potential?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

God is with You

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Matthew 28:20

“…And surely, I (Jesus) am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Since God is always with you, are you always aware of HIS presence?

If you are human like me, your initial response is a resounding no. How does one stay permanently together when the other person keeps a low profile, stays invisible, and rarely speaks. And when you do receive communications from HIM, you are unsure if you correctly perceived the message and need confirmation whether you understood the matter as you believed you heard.

It is hard enough to understand your mate who is next to you, visibly communicating with their words, actions, and attitude. So how much more challenging with someone unseen?

Yet, when the Spirit is alive and active in one’s life, we begin to acknowledge there is a part of us that seems to understand the Word we receive (I Corinthians 2:10, Romans 8:27).    

Now “with” is a function word. We use the word to indicate participation and to express agreement. So, when God and you are walking together through life sharing each other’s interests, challenges, and hopes, are you not doing life together? Like any committed relationship, when you are together you are either fully engaged or partially engaged. Yet you are engaged. The only question is the degree of your engagement.

The with-God life is one where you and God are mutually in agreement and supporting each other through life’s trials, tests, and successes. Now God doesn’t need our support as much as we need HIS. Yet, HE allows us to participate with HIM in HIS macro plan to restore creation to HIS original intent. So as God shares HIS life with us and allows us to share our life with HIM, doesn’t life become a great ballroom dance with a full orchestra in the background traveling around the maze of other dancers who are likewise moving to a unique pattern as only HE and and each of you recognize your own?

As we allow HIM to lead us and likewise struggle to follow HIM, we slowly realize over time we are reflecting HIS glory for others to witness what the with-God life truly represents. Our engagement with HIM is determined most of the time with how focused and intentional our heart, mind, and behavior respond to HIS presence.

So, since HE is always with you, how intentional are you with HIM?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved