Character

The Tough Jesus

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

1 JOHN 2:5 (EXB)

But if someone ·obeys [keeps] ·God’s teaching [L his word], then in that person ·God’s love [or love for God] has ·truly reached its goal [been fulfilled/perfected/completed]. This is how we can be sure we are ·living in God [L in him].

We all easily agree with Jesus when HE speaks about compassion, service, and justice. But what about those hard sayings?

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48) is a challenging goal. How does that compare with your standard of righteousness?

How about forgiveness? How many times are we to forgive those who hurt us? Peter thought seven times is a good standard before you put the person in your unforgiveness tent. But what did Jesus say?  “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt. 18:22). Now 490 times raises the forgiveness bar to an all-new time high. You might as well say indefinitely. (I don’t know any person who keeps count of such times unless they are working hard towards 491 to put the person in their personal unforgiveness prison.)

What about seeking to become great in something? Where you are #1 in your field. Looked up and praise by your fellow peers. How does Jesus expect you to achieve that goal? His disciples had similar desires. Jesus replied to them and to us with these words: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk.9:25). His way isn’t about manipulation, power plays, and putting spin on one’s viewpoint. If you want to be a leader in your field, learn to serve those around you from a humble perspective. Be a servant and help them achieve their desires. There is no glory in being a servant, but servant-hood is God’s way of leadership.

Where does evil come from? Jesus would often repeat what makes a person good or evil comes from the heart.  “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? (Mt. 9:4).
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (Mt. 15:19).
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Lk. 6:45). So how does one replace the evilness found in one’s soul?  It begins with God’s Word and is strengthen through HIS Spirit. When God’s values are planted and allowed to bloom in a person’s heart, the fruit of righteousness and joy of living are expressed in everyday life.

Repentance is about changing your current worldview. When you replace your mental inputs with God’s knowledge of life, you begin to view the world from HIS perspective. You begin to better understand your potential and shortcomings. You acknowledge your need for a Savior. You gratefully surrender your soul and support the King of Kings. As you mature in the faith, you grow in grace and knowledge of your Lord. You become a servant within HIS kingdom. You learn to govern and serve others from HIS perspective. You realize the importance of living life mutually submitting yourself with others. You find life becomes more of a romantic adventure. Yes, life is hard. There are trials and sufferings. Yet, you want others to experience the awesome joy and peace you have within yourself even through these tough times. For you know all good things come from your heavenly Father. And you want everyone to know what you know about HIM, HIS Son, and HIS Spirit.

Yes Jesus comes across as tough at times. But HIS purpose is for us to reach out to HIM. To accept HIS authority in our life. To follow HIS ways. To reach out to HIM as HE as already reached out to us. For HE is the reason you live. He wants you to know your are included in HIS story. HE knows your potential. HE is preparing you for an eternal role in HIS family business: the government of God. For today HE may be tough on us. But HIS plans for you and I are greater than anything we can even imagine.   

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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Satan’s Game Plan

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…

You may not believe in a devil. You may not believe in conspiracies. But Jesus does. In both of these Scriptures, Jesus outlines the characteristics of someone who lives outside of God’s divine nature and is scheming to destroy humanity. He is the devil. God’s adversary.

If you want to personify a person who is anti-God, the devil is your role model. Satan (the chief devil) lives life opposing God. His behavior and fundamental approach to life produces chaos. Unlike God whose character demonstrates harmony and order, the devil is everything opposite HIM.

God’s divine nature is built on truth which allows freedom, trust, and relationships to bloom. Satan’s way distorts reality, causes doubts, and subversives unity between people.

The Bible outlines God’s macro plan to adopt a family into the inner circle of the Triune life. Satan understands God’s purpose and angerly seeks ways to prevent humanity from participating with HIM. In fact, the devil seeks people to associate with him in the destruction of God’s plan.

He (devil) persuades others to pattern their life after his character. He naturally lies without concern for others. His natural tendency causes confusion, removes fundamental stability, and produces fear in the hearts of the spiritual weak. The more he can keep people’s minds away from the Triune God, the easier his work is magnified.

He (devil) is a natural thief. He only knows how to steal. Work is an allergy he avoids. He cannot build anything of long-term value. He takes from others and justifies his motives. His policies deliberately destroy lives. Wherever he can eliminate a life, he targets. In his eyes, life is not precious but an object to eliminate.

He is evil personified. The opposite of God. He allows us to witness the difference between beauty and ugly, harmony and disorder, flourishment and poverty, joy and indifference, purpose and wandering, diligence and laziness, humility and pride, servant-leadership and tyranny, peace and war, fulfillment and emptiness, etc. Whatever is good, comes from God. Whatever is evil, is a byproduct of the devil’s intentions.

The Book of Revelation highlights Satan’s end. Until then, God’s plan for humanity allows Satan to roam the earth causing havoc. Yet when we realize his nature and game plan, we are able to compare the surpassing ways of Almighty God with the destructive tendencies of Satan. Yes, choosing God’s Way is easier when one can repeatedly compare the outcome of divine nature against the devil’s character under historical evidence. Maybe that is why God allows Satan to continue his torrid ways.

When you know the devil’s routine, you can more easily ignore him by living under the authority of Christ. When we allow Jesus to confront the devil’s work before us, they flee. But if one does not live under the authority of Christ, then they are fair game for Satan to unleash his devious wrath upon them. Be safe and allow the love and hope of Jesus Christ always lead you. Let the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) be your strong defense against the schemes of the devil to stand firm.

Remember, when history is completed, the evidence as prophesied in the last chapters of Revelation show God and humanity wins, Satan loses.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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Appeasing the Crowd

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , , ,

Mark 15:15

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. (ESV)

Do you need courage to stand up against the crowd?

When you know what is right and you give in to the noise and threats of others, did you just uncover your slackness of character. Here Pilate weighed the consequences and found it politically easier to satisfy the crowd’s desire rather than do what is right. Why trouble yourself over one person’s life he may have thought? Do not the power players teach you to carefully choose your fights? What do I have to gain if I choose to do what is right in this case? (He probably murmured to himself). 

Most likely, many of us have been there where the bully threatens one into submission. Rather than fight for what is right, we roll over and succumb to the more traveled road. Yet in hindsight, we know the best route would have been to stand up and face the evil rather than run from it.

Yes, it takes courage to face our adversaries. When we discover our lack, we shamefully accept the situation without putting up resistance. In the process we also discover a weakness of our humanity and quickly try to cover the matter up rather than expose our shortcomings to the world. The moment of truth has arrived.

Our Triune God knows our weaknesses. If we had the godly character in place, the matter would have been differently handled. But in that moment of truth, we discovered something lacking in ourselves and the real you is exposed.

Life is a learning process preparing you and I for eternity with Jesus. Moments like this slap us in the face and wake us up to the matter. Either we change or we shall continue to repeat the situation over and over again until the pain becomes unbearable, and our lives become intolerable.

However, when we accept Jesus as Lord, HIS Spirit begins the process of living in you. You slowly take on the characteristics of your Creator. Yes, you were made in the image of God. You were also destined to live life like HE did when he visited planet some 2,000 years ago.

The Holy Spirit wants to fully empower you to reflect the strength and character of Jesus Christ. As you walk along with HIM, you will discover the power of faith, truth, and love. You will become embolden with HIS characteristics. Then one day, you will find yourself in a similar situation and you will boldly stand up to the truth, do what is right, and afterwards marvel at your conduct giving thanks to God. The circumstantial outcome may or may not be the same, but you will be at peace and fully prepared to handle the consequences just like your Teacher, Jesus Christ.

So, if you need courage to stand up against the crowd, you now know where to find it.

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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