commitment

I Do

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:3-6

A Christian marriage is life-long. Two people bound together in a covenant of love and faithfulness until death. A beautiful way of life for raising a family and learning God’s way of life in the process. The agreement is not for immature children. But two people who honor each other. Serve each other. And fight through their personal demons to become one. There are only a few Biblical reasons to end it.

On that wedding day, standing before family and friends, the couple state their vows. The minister most often will read passages from the Bible. These usually are from 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5. They may also include words like “whether richer or poorer, through health or sickness.” The aim is to acknowledge they are bound together till death. No matter what the couple faces in the future together.

A sacred and special moment for both with ideals and hopes laid before them. In many ways, in hindsight, not a clue of what is in store before them.

Are not our relationship and commitment with Jesus the same? Has HE not already proposed to us (Luke 9:23)? If we accept HIS offer to follow HIM, do we really know the path where the relationship is going to take us?

Like marriage, it is a commitment. We stand before God, others, and self with our vows, and state “I do” to each. As new babes in Christ, we have hopes and dreams of the future. But then real-world catastrophe occurs. Things don’t go according to plans. Financial challenges. Health challenges. Relationship challenges. Your demons may not even be on the list. But they know you and attack you on a regular basis.

The “I Do” is only three letters. But the power of a commitment behind it is strong. It is what separates winners from losers. Those who pursue life from those who run away. The “I Do” built on enduring love and faithfulness is a weapon for victory. These are the character traits Jesus lives by and empowers us to live by.

A healthy marriage gives us a taste of how Jesus lives with Father and Spirit. This is the relationship HE wants with you and me. Two people becoming one. In marriage two people find ways to work out the obstacles before them. Their lifelong commitment is to make the marriage work. So does Jesus do with us.

The “I DO” is only the start of a journey for life. What comes next is the process of growing in the grace, wisdom, and knowledge of our Lord unto eternity. It involves maturing as a people. It is learning to trust God with all our being. It is learning to partner with the invisible God who loves us more than we realize. He wants what is best for us for the long term. Not immediate gratification. But a future full of favor and success before HIM and those around you.


It all begins with “I Do.” Then it requires the commitment to hang in there and trust Jesus in the process.

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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Sexuality Trap

Dr. Mike 2022 , , , ,

Hebrews 13:4

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Yes, God created sex. Not only did HE create the biological male and female, but also the physical and emotional pleasure and enjoyment of the act. Like everything else HE designed, sex also has a purpose within HIS plan. Now God is not prudish but understands human behavior and emotion since HE purposely designed us with the sexual desire in place.

Now many of us in the 21st century erroneously believe freedom means choosing and doing whatever we desire. Yes, freedom gives you the option to choose whatever you desire, but each choice also has consequences. A choice that leads you to your destruction stills allows you to exercise your freedom, but the end result may remove any further freedom you possess.

The Bible instructs us how sex without Godly boundaries leads to a self-imposed dark hole. But on the other hand, sex with healthy boundaries leads to freedom of expression, intimacy, and fulfillment. Our human mind often finds difficulty in understanding this concept between freedom and boundaries especially when it involves our personal satisfaction.

For example, God’s desire is to have a personal relationship with you. He has provided the means, historical evidence, and reward system to make us aware of HIS intentions. Yet, many choose to refrain from sharing life with HIM. He created the human procreation method for more people to have the opportunity to invest life with HIM. HE even designed sexual intimacy between a man and woman as an example of the love HE wants to share with each of us.

The Hebrew Bible over 900 times refers to this intimacy as Yada – intimately knowing. The Bible in Genesis uses this phrase when a couple are having sexual relations as Adam yada Eve. In Psalms, King David expresses this phrase multiple times as being in a state of yada with God. Yada typically expresses the covenant bond between two parties. This covenant bond is found within a Biblical Christian marriage. The marriage commitment between a man and woman creates the safe space for two people to experience the yada relationship between each other and the relationship God has for us.

The sexuality trap is separating God from sex. When God is left out of the relationship, so are the morals and boundaries of human expression. The trap is sprung when sex becomes a commodity only to satisfy one’s desire rather than an intimate time to share oneself authentically with another. When the sex act becomes an addiction of pleasing one’s emotional cravings, one has sold themselves to the slavery of sin. One has lost the freedom found in true love and buried themselves into the pornographic virtual world of make believe. Again, when one becomes chained in the prison of sin, their best hope is found in the grace of God and HIS teachings on eternal values.

God’s covenant love expressed through HIS relationship with the people of Israel and HIS church set’s us the important example of the sexual encounter. Through the sexual act we come to intimately know someone. God’s covenant with HIS people is HIM giving 100% of HIMSELF in relationship with us so we can come to know HIM better. Not 50%-50%; not 80%-20%, but 100%. HE is constantly giving 100% of HIMSELF into the relationship.

Many of us humans operate within marriage from a contractual viewpoint. If the other side doesn’t fulfill their part of the contract, we believe it gives us an out. So, we divorce and move on to the next relationship to repeat the process over again. But God’s covenant agreement is not contractual, but one sided. In a successful marriage, each side is giving 100% of themselves to the other.

God created us as sexual beings so we can have a taste of HIS desire for us. HE yearns for us to come and know HIM – to yada HIM as HE yada us. Likewise, our human sexual desire imitates HIS desire for us. To freely share the sexual experience solely with another person committed to the relationship until death do us part leads to coming to know more who God IS and HIS love for us.

Having multiple sexual encounters is like worshiping multiple gods. When you choose the one Triune God and only worship HIM, you embarked on an adventurous, joyous journey. However, when you chase after false idols, you experience the frustration and disappointment of never finding your one true love. 

Enjoying sex outside the committed relationship of marriage is falling into the trap of slavery to sin. Sin is living outside of God’s created order of real harmony where true freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment is found. Real abundant living includes a healthy expression of sexuality between two people in a committed relationship for life. There they learn and experience the joyous meaning of Yada.

The God-ordained institution of marriage when fully understood and practiced according to the covenant principal of yada leads to real freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment. The results are good for couples, children, and society as a whole. But when sex is extracted outside of marriage, and God is removed from the relationship, sex becomes a discounted-store commodity. What was designed for two people to experience life to the fullest becomes an uncontrollable addiction leading to pain and misery in the long-term.

This is why the writer of Hebrews emphasized that the marriage relationship is a higher honor and value than just having sexual encounters with uncommitted bedfellows. Don’t be fooled by the lies and traps of culture. Learn what God recommends. You will be pleasantly at awe by the outcome.

   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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Why Make The Commitment?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 ESV

 commitment 2

Without commitment, rarely anything good happens for the long term.

Without commitment, there is no personal growth.

Without commitment, trust is questioned.

Without commitment, goals are only dreams.

Without commitment, love doesn’t bloom.

Without commitment, friendship is shallow.

Without commitment, a business is surely to fail.

Without commitment, a marriage is only a negotiable contract.

Without commitment, God is only an idea.

Without commitment, treaties between countries is a fantasy.

Without commitment, laws are only a suggestion.

Without commitment, excellence is never obtained.

Without commitment, accountability is waived.

Without commitment, faith is an illusion.

Our Triune God sets the standard for commitment. He made the commitment before the foundation of the world to birth a new humanity (Ephesians 1:4). No matter how often mankind messes up the process, He is always faithful. His commitment for us is revealed each day. How about you? What is your commitment level?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Founder & Executive Director
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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