Belief

You Believe, Now What?

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.   Titus 3:8

You have studied the evidence. You have reviewed all the historical facts. You have pondered the life and death of Jesus Christ. You have analyzed the pros and cons of the resurrection. You are now at the turning point. The evidence is overwhelming. If you seek the truth, you have found it. You now understand. You accept HIS claim. HE is Lord, Savior, and King. So, now what?

As you read Scripture, you find passages which instruct you. As His new disciple, you begin following HIM to the best of your ability. He is now your teacher. You want to know more. But there is much you read and don’t understand. So, you begin to search the internet. You read from different sources. Your head becomes overfilled with options and choices. Where do you go from there?

You ask your friends, neighbors, and others who you also know are Believers. What faith community do they attend? Why is it their choice? You may make a list of two or three faith communities to attend. You meet the people. You listen to the preacher. You do more reading about their denomination. What is their mission? How does that mission agree with what you read in Scripture?

You read where the early disciples spent time in prayer and fellowship together. So, you begin to do the same. After reviewing some tips from a few of your online sources, you begin to talk with God. You search which faith community has a small group you can join. You begin to regularly attend.

As you become aware of a Christ-follower’s Walk with Jesus, you put into practice what you see others do. But before you jump in, you always confirm what Scripture reveals. You also constantly communicate with Father-Son-Spirit. The more you practice, the more you begin to witness God’s grace in your life. Also, the more divine knowledge you acquire, the better you understand God’s work in your life and others.

Your walk will eventually lead you to learn and apply HIS Kingdom ways in your everyday life. You will practice HIS ways in your home, at work, and within your community. You will meet others who likewise practice Kingdom ways. Maybe even form a fellowship with others in the marketplace. A place you can build a platform of serving others through a business. Where you can be a witness of how Jesus leads you to live a productive and meaningful life. A place you can excel at doing good work. Work that is rewarding for those you serve and for all the families involved.

The life of a Christ-follower is a journey of love and adventure. As we learn to dance with Father-Son-Spirit on earth’s floor, we participate with HIM in HIS work. As HE shares HIS life with us, we share ours with HIM. We allow HIM to live HIS life in and through us. We benefit from the process and HE is glorified.

We become HIS witnesses of the Kingdom of God in action. As others come to see your good works, they also come into contact with your God. As Joseph found favor with Pharaoh, so may you. As Daniel found favor with his King, so may you. They realize the God they serve was very powerful. When you introduce the Jesus you have come to know, others will want to know HIM too. HE is not the shallow Jesus the world portrays. HE is the God-Man who makes a vast difference in the lives of those who follow HIM.

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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To Believe

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

John 6:29

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

John 6:40

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 20:31

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is quite simple to understand. In fact, so simple that many people find it a stumbling block. They have to add something more to the good news. In the process, they make it more difficult than Jesus stated.

To believe Jesus is who HE claimed to BE requires going against our nature. If it sounds too good, it must be untrue is how we have been conditioned by the world around us. This is how we have become. We live in a world where we are bombarded with lies, distortions, and propaganda. Yet, when you actually take the time to investigate, look at all the evidence, than you will be confronted with a life-changing decision to make. 

Is HE the Jewish Messiah promised from the beginning of time? Is HE a divine being who became human to fulfill the requirements of God’s plan? Or is HE a liar or lunatic misread by the public and those close to Him?

Many have tried to prove HIM a liar or lunatic and failed. In fact, many have come to believe in HIM through the process of trying to prove HIM wrong. To accept the good news that God only wants you BELIEVE in Jesus initially sounds too easy.

But it is not that easy. We begin to believe but our view of Godly reality is quite distorted. For example, when we pray and do not receive what we ask for, do we begin to question God rather than our distorted view of HIM? When we read Scripture and place our trust on one of HIS promises that fails to come our way, what then? Do we begin to question God rather than our distorted understanding of the text? When we receive an inspiration we believe is from God and follow through on it only to end up in a deeper hole, what then? Do we begin to question God rather than the process of our actions?

We all have a distorted view of God. Yet what happens as we endure through the process of having the Holy Spirit chisel away at our character? Doesn’t HE open our eyes to become more attuned to HIS heart and ways? Don’t we slowly capture a larger picture of who God actual IS?

To Believe is the starting point. Along with the belief there is a large bundle of unbelief that keeps pushing against our mind and soul. This bundle of worldly garbage will slowly dissipate over time as you learn to trust walking in Christ.

Your belief will constantly be attacked and questioned. But as you focus your mind, heart, and soul to worship God, you will find yourself reflecting HIS character in your life. You will discover you reflect whatever you worship.

If you worship money, you reflect money. You worship lies, you reflect lies. You worship sex, you will reflect sex. You worship integrity, you will reflect integrity. Us humans are wired to reflect what we worship.

If you worship Jesus Christ, you will reflect HIM.

Yes, the good news of Jesus Christ is found when you believe in HIM.  Your belief begins the process of sanctification. This allows you to experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit. HE begins to actively morph you into the image of Jesus Christ from the inside-out.

Yes, your worldview will begin to change. From there, your world becomes more Kingdom oriented. You will become one who believes, and your beliefs will begin to reflect the glory of God for the sake of others. They will see your good works and take notice. You will begin to preach the gospel to others without words.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Doubt Trap

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , , , ,

 John 20:29 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Doubting is the natural inclination of the human psyche. We have all doubted somewhere, someplace, at something. The problem is not doubting, but how one responds to the doubt.

The New Testament writers highlight the event of the apostle Thomas who was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them after the resurrection. When they shared the event with Thomas, his response as stated from John 20:25 was:

“So, the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later when Thomas was with the group, Jesus again appeared. “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe.”

Thomas’ responded with the words “My Lord and my God.” (Wouldn’t you?)

Thomas doubted because his belief system over time verified that dead people do not come back from the dead. When people die, they are dead. End of story. However, when confronted with proof before him, reality changed for Thomas. Jesus, who was dead, now stood before him. The injuries to his body remained as a walking billboard confirming HE was HE and not an imposter. Thomas’ doubt dissipated into belief.

Doubt is not the enemy of belief, but another hypothesis to investigate. Our beliefs will always come sprinkled with doubt. There is always something new we discover or learn which will either strengthen our core or question the validity. The challenge is keeping the doubt in perspective while our belief system remains central as we unpack the doubt before us.

I recall in my early walks when challenged by circumstances questioning the very existence of God. When HE did not immediately respond to my prayers or allowed me to walk through the valley of evil, I questioned whether HE existed. Yet, each time I would review the fundamental basics of my beliefs, ponder over the evidence one more time, and still conclude, yes, HE exists. Afterward, it would then leave me with the question, what is it that I do not understand? Again, over time, lessons from life are learned, the relationship & trust with our Triune God becomes stronger, and even when another doubt is thrown our way, we now catch it, file it in the study drawer, and begin the process to gather the evidence to substantiate the facts.

Unpacking doubt will lead you to the truth; and the truth will always lead you to God. So, if you are wrong somewhere in your beliefs, God will eventually show you. Until then, we let doubt have its place as an instrument of discovering more of HIM, HIS ways, and HIS truth. Otherwise, doubt becomes the force which may eventually separate us from the ONE who sustains the central core of life.

Again, every person will face doubt. The question is how will you respond? Eve took Satan’s bait and instead of directly discussing the situation with God, turned doubt into a poor choice. On the other hand, King David through his writings of Psalms, makes multiple mentions of doubting but always confronting God with the issues. His life, though not perfect, demonstrates how doubt is best managed. God knows your dilemma, doubts, and troubles. Take it up with HIM and watch how HE directs your steps to find the answers which will only strengthen you and mature you in your walk with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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