Jesus Knows Who We Are

20132013 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ christ-follower, DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, discipleship, life in christ, radical in christ

Why do we serve? Do we want to let the world know how good of a person we are? Does it make us feel important? Or is it just a part of our nature? Do we truly believe it is more blessed to give than receive?

We just finished reading an old Discipleship Journal magazine which had an article entitled “Secret Service.” The article outlined how a few Christ-followers are serving others incognito. They practice the scripture of not letting your right-hand know what your other hand is doing in serving others. When they help others they do it either through a third party or in secret. At the end of the day, all glory goes to God and the act itself. They just receive the personal satisfaction of helping others without the fanfare. We love the act.

When Jesus served, was his primary attitude to draw attention to Himself or to help others for their sake with as little fanfare as possible? Did Jesus die for us because He wanted to achieve personal glory or because He Loves us? When He walked the earth, who did He give the glory to? As His disciple, we have learned that the glory and honor belongs to Jesus, our Heavenly Dad, and the Holy Spirit. All the glory and praise is God’s. We have come to realize that everything we accomplish, whether in service or for personal gain, we achieve only because of God’s grace. For starters, He gives us life itself. He gives us the air to breathe, makes our heart tick, and mind to operate effectively (unless we damage it). He gives us His Spirit of compassion and love. He allows us to work and earn an income. He allowed us to be born in America, the land of physical wealth and personal freedom. He blesses us so we can bless others. He provides us the opportunities to serve. He teaches us the joy and privilege of serving. No wonder all the praises and glory go to Him. Everything begins and ends with Him.

We don’t need the recognition anymore. Our recognition comes from Him. We are His disciples and He takes exceptionally good care of us. All recognition goes to Him.

OUR PRAYER

Dear Wonderful Dad, you are our success, joy, and recognition in everything we do. You surround us with your Grace and Presence each and every day. You give us more than we deserve. You make our cup overflow with your abundant riches. Everything we own is a loan from you. You created everything for us to share in and we likewise share it with others. Without you there is nothing worth owning, possessing, or having. You add value to everything because you created value. We can never express our gratitude and thankfulness for your involvement in our life. Everything is because of you.

If we have not express our thanks to you today, let us say thank you again and again. If we have already expressed our thanks to you today, we express it again. There is not enough time in a day to thank you for your Grace, your Gifts, but more importantly just knowing you. We humbly thank you and express our gratitude. Amen.

Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God
Website: EnjoyLifeInChrist.com

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

20132023 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ apprentice of Jesus, christ-follower, Christianity, christlike, DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, discipleship, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God, KINGDOM REALITY, life in christ, radical in christ, transformation

Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading? You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher. Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first? Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers? Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers? Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?. If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did. It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us. In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before. Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel. Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus. Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life. There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book. Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes. Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others. Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life. Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom. Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

Does God Make Sense?

20132013 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ christ-follower, christlike, disciple, disciple of his, discipleship, Holy Spirit, Kingdom of God, KINGDOM REALITY, life in christ

When Job lost his family, and his earthly possessions were taken away, plus his health destroyed with boils, did he consider that time in life to make any sense? When Joseph was taken into slavery to Egypt and locked up in jail for over ten years, did he make sense of his current situation? When the apostle Paul found himself left stoned to death, shipwrecked, beaten, pursued by his enemies of the cross. did he consider his current situation to make any sense?

When we stop and look at our present time, do we ever ask if it makes any sense? Though most of us are not a Paul, Joseph, nor Job with no major specific mission in life; where history will not record our accomplishments to the masses. In fact, most of our lives are quite normal and most the time uneventful. And frankly, most of us enjoy it that way. But, does it make any sense?

We live in America, the Disney Country of the planet earth. We have the choice to live anywhere that is affordable for us. Wehave the opportunity to educate ourselves at any university if we apply our self. We could pursue whatever occupation interests us. We have the opportunity to select our own mate and have as many children as physically possible. We also have the opportunity to worship at the church of our choice. We probably have more than enough in physical comforts and may even begin to feel guilty whenever we acquire more. But does our present situation make sense?

If tomorrow we lost everything we own; if our world fell apart and we are taken into prison for something we didn’t do. If we are beaten and left .for dead, would our present situation make sense?

The answer of course is that as a disciple of His, everything makes sense. Nothing will separate us from the love of God. As His disciple, He is the center of our universe; the center of our life. He makes our situation make sense. No matter where we find ourselves, no matter what the situation, no matter what the outcome, He is in control. Our agreement with Him is to surrender all and He will make sense of it all.

He is creating a masterpiece in each one of us and collectively in His universal Church. In our almost forty years following Christ, no matter what ignorant decisions, actions, or events that have taken place, He has always been with me. When evil surrounds us or death knocks at our door, we may not have fully realized it at the time, but in hindsight, He is always around and in control. There is a great purpose being worked out here below and we are a part of it. Yes it takes faith. But isn’t that one part of the armor of a Christ follower? And shouldn’t a disciple of His be wearing that armor every day?

Does your present situation make sense? Or maybe the question really is, “Does God make sense?” Only when we faithfully answer that question, will our present situation make sense.

OUR PRAYER

Dear Purposeful Dad, thank you for being in control. Thank you for taking care of the small details of life. But mostly, thank you for being involved in our life.

Help us to yield ourselves into your hands, to trust you in all of life’s circumstances and situations. Help us to see the circumstances that you present to us as opportunities to witness to your great power in our life. We pray, glorify your name by creating your masterpiece in us. Take the circumstances that we find ourselves in and change our heart to be like yours. Change the heart of those around us to be like yours. Change the circumstances if you believe that to be the best solution, but more importantly, take the present situation and reveal your Greatness through it. Let others see your magnificence. Let us see your magnificence. Let others know that you know us and care for us. Let your life abide in us and in you.

Let us not try to make sense of the situation we are in. We do not ask why. Instead we ask that you take our present situation and magnify yourself through it.

Let your glory abound. Let your Word abound. Let the Holy Spirit abound. Let your Kingdom abound. Help us abound for your name’s sake. In Jesus we ask. Amen.

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God