Let’s Praise the Creator, Not the Created

20132023 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ christ-follower, christlike, DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, life in christ, radical in christ

What feeds our internal motivational drive? Is it the comments,feedback, or applause from others? Is it the acknowledgement from our parents or other family members? Is it the acceptance of our working peers, next door neighbors, or community sponsors?

One of the hardest lessons we have to learn from life is to separate our value as a person from our economic value. Typically, it isn’t until our mid-30s that we come to understand that our worth as a person is not measured by personal achievements or people’s applause. Yes, our economic value is proportionally measured by how well we accomplished goals and objectives that fiscally benefited others. However, our value as a person is separate from our value as a capitalist. To paraphrase Jesus, one’s life is not measured by the abundance of one’s possessions. It is more than that. Yes, one needs physical comforts. But. real life is measure by the abundance of God’s spirit living in us and through us. Real life is a channel of love, joy, peace, goodness, self-control, faithfulness and everything else that defines God. We as a people want the physical benefits from God without the internal character of God. We take shortcuts in life so we can enjoy eating the apple pie without having to take the time to prepare and make it with real, natural ingredients.

As a disciple of His our praise goes to Him and our satisfaction is receiving feedback from Him. Specifically, that we are a faithful servant. We now know that every innate ability, every opportunity to excel, every skill developed, every challenge conquered, every goal achieved, every creative plan presented, every source of financial or human resource obtained, everything comes about only because He ultimately provides it; and allows us to use it. This is His grace showered upon us. Therefore, every praise or glory now goes to the Creator and not the Created. Today, every time praises are directed in our direction, we gladly point to Him; to our Dad, our Lord, and our Comforter. It is He who deserve all the praises and glory. We are only doing what a servant is required to do. Our master is the brains, the power, and the wealth behind our success. We now know it and acknowledge it.

The praises belong to God. They don’t motivate us any longer. Instead, we find them to be a deterrent in our walk with Jesus. They take our focus away from Jesus and place them back on us. We would rather keep our focus on Jesus. You can call it escapism. But escapism with Jesus is the best place we have found in this life. Praise Lord Jesus!

OUR PRAYER

Our Creator Dad, everything is yours! You own the earth and everything on it. You own space and everything in it. You own time and everything that exists through it. You own the universe and every galaxy, planet, and star that inhabits it. You own it all!

Everything is yours! The talents and gifts you bestow upon us come from you. The relationships in our life are people that you created. The opportunities you give us to work come from you. The love. joy, and peace in our life come from you. You own it all!

Everything is yours! The material we use to build our homes, cars, and clothes. The water we drink and the air we breathe. The imagination and creativeness of our minds is your masterpiece. You own it all.

Everything is yours! The music we sing. The books we write. The scientific truths we discover. Everything comes from you and glorifies you. You deserve all praise and glory and honor for now and evermore! Amen. Amen.

Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

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

The Top Is Already Taken

20132023 Dr. Mike Journey in Christ DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, life in christ, radical in christ

Is there a difference between striving to be the best you can be versus striving to be the best of the best?

We all probably remember playing king of the hill in our youth. If you were like many of us, you had your few moments where you were on top of the hill only to be displaced by someone larger and stronger than yourself. Isn’t there always someone bigger, stronger, and meaner than the next person? Remember those days in college when we would receive the highest grade on a test. Did that mean we were the smartest person of the class? Most likely not, only for that test we knew the answers better than our fellow students. Remember some of our friends who put so much pressure on themselves to achieve the highest grade in the class that they would literally become sick in the process? Is that worth the price to being the top of the class?

Since becoming a disciple of His, we have received a peace that has removed the inner drive of wanting to be tops in anything. Our top is now Jesus. He receives the pre-eminence. He is the best in our book. He sets the standard for personal achievement.

Advertisers know that communicating a position of a product plants that image into our minds. Whether something is ranked number one, two, or three, we store that information in our commercial minds. Usually we can remember who is tops in any product, contest, or event. Rarely do we recall anyone who comes in second or thereafter. Therefore, the competitive spirit enters us to seek that first position. If it is important for you to be the top of your field, are you going to pay the price? You will sacrifice everything you have: maybe your health, your family life, your social life, your career, your whatever, just so you can finish on top. We admire people who sacrifice to achieve the end result. But do we admire people who sacrifice everything and do not finish at the top? Do we admire people whose sacrifice ruins the lives of people who are close to them? Do we admire people whose sacrifice causes pain and heartache for many others so that one person can achieve their personal ambitions?

Is the price we pay to be on top worth the sacrifice? Or is it just as worthwhile to be the best you can be without causing other love ones to suffer in the process?

OUR PRAYER

Dear God and Lord Jesus, your ways are the best and the most fulfilling. You set the standard and the example of successful living. We want to live life like you did while walking on this planet. Help us to discover our talents and gifts and use them for your glory. But protect those you have surrounded us with by making them more important than any goal. objective, or ambition that we pursue. Always be tops in our book. Don’t let us be disappointed by your plans with us. Help us walk with you. Let our desires and dreams be built around you. Always be the cornerstone of our life. Help us walk the balanced life with you. Amen.

Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God