Character

A Test of Trust and Loyalty

Dr. Mike 2026, Life Tools , , , , , ,

“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Proverbs 17:3

What does God want from you and me now in life? Why does HE test our hearts? What is he testing us for? Does HE want us simply to follow the rules and religious ways given to us? Or is there more?

How about those two important characteristics – trust and loyalty.

Is not trust the anchor of relationships? Is not loyalty the glue of organizational accomplishments? Are not both the heartbeat of God’s desire for you and me?

Are not both trust and loyalty expressed through the faith we exercise with Jesus? Are they not the byproduct of faith in action?

Throughout Scripture, people are always being tested by God. HE wants to confirm and also for us to know the condition of our hearts. It started with Adam and Eve. One test. One very noticeable failure. Abraham was tested. Would he sacrifice his one and only son. Moses was tested. Would he face Pharaoh on behalf of Yahweh. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tested. They would rather die than disobey their Lord. Saul was tested as king of Israel. He failed. David was tested for thirteen years before he replaced Saul as king.

Jesus was even tested in the wilderness. He could have had all his earthly desires fulfilled without trusting God’s timeline. But HE chose to wait and live out HIS Father’s will. Peter was tested and failed three times when he denied Jesus. But God’s grace empowered him when he repented with Jesus on that beach after the resurrection. Judas also was tested and failed. Rather than repent, he chose the cowardly way out of the situation and hung himself.

There are many other examples.

At the end of the day, it’s not what you know nor what you even do. Instead, can God trust you? As an agent of HIS, can HE send you to the furthest corner of the universe and know you will do what is best per HIS character? If the enemy makes an enticing offer to you, will you accept or be loyal to HIM?

Trust and loyalty are character strengths that are verified through battle. Each battle is a test. Each day when temptation comes to break the trust you and HE have developed; do you go the way of Judas or Jesus? When the adversary makes you an offer to join his side of the campaign, do you sell your loyalty for personal gain?

Yes, your faith is being tested each day. Every day you are either strengthening your relationship with Jesus or not. Like a marriage for life, you commit to make the relationship work. You do not enter situations that may endanger the trust you have built with your Lover. You may not like everything about the situation you are in, but you also know you are in good hands.

You have a relationship with the Lord of Lords. It doesn’t get any better than that. His grace is sufficient to help us hang unto HIM. Everything else is secondary no matter how well package or marketed to you. Let your loyalty and trust always be only in the God-Man from Galilee.

Make HIM your spiritual sole mate and your soul and spirit will prosper. Let your trust and loyalty be found solely in HIM and nothing else.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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“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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Suffering. Endurance. Character. Hope.

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , 
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5

Why is suffering a problem for many people who blame God for its existence? The question arose again this week at our weekly small group meeting. The man has a friend who is a “good person.” But now he is going through medical challenges. This is causing hardship and pain within the family. Why does God allow it he asks.

Some of us have the illusion that suffering is the exception. When in reality, it is the norm. Being free from suffering is the exception.

Suffering is the event that God uses to bring about his spiritual masterpiece in you and I. No one wants to suffer. But a broken world with broken people produces a broken society. In due time, we all will suffer pain.

It may be physical, emotional, relational, or financial. It may cause us to lose our freedom, our dreams, and our well-being. Yes, even good people will suffer. Ask Jesus.

A perfect, sinless man who confronted the masses and political machines of his day. His contribution to society led him to a most torturous death. Yes, even HE could not escape the human clothe of suffering.

Suffering is part of the human condition. One can either wallow in it or accept it. One either moves on or allow its teeth to mull you into oblivion. Yet as the apostle Paul writes, Christ-followers rejoice in their suffering. For believers know God’s Spirit lives in them. HE is doing a work through the pain that will produce a spiritual masterpiece. For suffering produces endurance to lean more and more on Christ. As we lean on HIM, HIS Spirit is remaking our inner heart after HIS image. As we look at the fruit, our hope grows more and more on our relationship with HIM. We see HIS involvement in our life.

Yes, we may not like the process. It hurts. It produces hardships. Yet we have learned to trust HIM. Our focus in on eternity. Our desire is to yield ourselves into HIS arms. To allow HIS Spirit to produce the character needed to serve HIM and others in HIS Kingdom forever.

Yes, suffering produces endurance, character, and hope with the Spirit that lives in us. The sad truth though, without the Spirit, suffering is a waste of energy and resources. A painful trip without meaning and purpose. Thus, lean on Jesus and allow HIS Spirit free reign in shaping you for HIS purpose and plans. 

It is not the story I planned in my youth, but it is the narrative I have chosen to follow. This is HIS story and HE has allowed us to participate with HIM through it. It includes suffering from poor decisions on my part. It involves suffering from the acts and decisions of others. It is the narrative that confronts us on a daily basis. How we respond and follow through is the story-line we write. Through the painful process our heart and character will be shaped. Hopefully, as we trust our Maker, yield to the Spirit’s influence, the final image we reflect will honor 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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Mature in Christ

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

How do you define maturity?

When my daughter was around six years old, she was misbehaving. I don’t recall the exact behavior. But do remember looking at her and in a serious tone of voice asking her why she doesn’t behave her age. Then I broke out laughing. She was acting like a six-year old. My expectations were out of kilter.

Looking back, she was always mature for her age. For maturity isn’t about one’s age, but how one behaves and acts in their season of life.

If you live long enough, you will witness sixty-year-olds behave like six-year-olds. You will also see six-year-olds at times behave like sixty-year-olds. Maturity is the aging process of learning how to apply wisdom in the situation you are in. As we grow and accept responsibility, we discover our strengths and purpose. We also find meaning in the service of others. We mature.

The human growth cycle involves accepting responsibility. Healthy young adults seek responsibility or have responsibility thrust upon them. The outcome is growth of character. Character includes learning the art of patience, handling conflict, and helping others to flourish. Like Jesus (Lk. 2:40,52), as more responsibility is accepted for serving others, one grows in wisdom, judgement, and stature.

For example, as an eleven-year-old, I delivered newspapers door-to-door. I learned responsibility. My job description included collecting payment, managing money, and paying suppliers. Later as a sixteen-year-old, I was given the responsibility to manage a large food concession. There I learned to supervise others, deal with customers, and manage food operations. Each season brought new responsibilities. Others depended on me. I grew from the experience.

As children of the living God, HE is likewise giving us responsibility now to prepare us for eternity. HE has plans for you and I when we crossover into the new world. Included in the training is learning how to act and behave as a representative of HIS family and kingdom. We are currently babes in Christ. Yet we yearn to know more. To experience more. Though we are immature in God’s eyes, HE still allows us to play house until we are ready for the real thing.

We are to set aside our childish ways (1 Cor.13:11). To grasp the responsibility of being a Christ-follower. Then we will begin to experience the fruit of maturity in Christ.

As members of HIS body the Church, we all have been given gifts and abilities to serve one another. As we exercise these gifts in service for others, we mature in Christ. As we allow God’s Spirit to express Himself through us, we mature in Christ. As we help others to capture the vision of HIS Kingdom, we mature in Christ.

As we accept our responsibility as a member of HIS Church and a citizen of HIS Kingdom, doors will open for us to mature in Christ. As we mature in Christ, we discover our purpose. We find meaning through our work and service for others. And like all God’s ways, when one follows Christ, everyone else around us also benefits in the long-term.  

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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