discipleship

“Come, Follow Me”

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:22

When Jesus makes the statement, “follow me”, what does all that mean?

In my younger days, I associated this as a student following his rabbi. Later, it meant addressing HIM as Lord and King under the rule of HIS Kingdom. But now, just a few days ago, the meaning even has gotten deeper.

I was listening to a person explain his life story to a group of us. This was like the fourth or fifth time I heard it. But this time coming to know him better, I listened deeper. Not just for the words but his psychological state of mind. It was like listening to a tape recorder. He had his story down pat. He believed it. It was his viewpoint of the situation. Who was I to disagree with him.

Yet, the story left a sad mark on me. The story made him the center of all life’s problems. He was the victim. There was no hope. No future. Just yesterday’s pain rolled up into today’s victimhood. Then it dawned on me. Jesus statement to follow HIM is more than a spiritual invitation. It is the invitation to write a new story. A life story where we join HIM in HIS story. We forgo our story. Instead of being the central character in our story, we accept the supporting role. Jesus is the central character. We join HIM in HIS story.

In our story, we are the hero or the victim. In Jesus story, HE is the hero and savior. We repent. We forgo our central position of the story. We refocus on Jesus. We join HIM. We support HIM as HIS follower. HE takes top billings. We accept the role which makes HIM look best. We become engaged with HIM in HIS story. We look forward to making all things new with HIM. We practice the art of Kingdom living with HIM. We do our work and play with HIM. We acknowledge HIM as the lead partner in our dance around life’s floor.

When now asked to share our story, Jesus is the central character, we are the supporting cast. We no longer are the prisoner of our story. We are no longer the villain. We are no longer the hero, savior, or ruler. We are but HIS servant joining HIM in our role at work, home, and community. We gladly deny ourselves. We maturely take up our responsibilities. We now follow HIM as HE completes HIS story in us, with us, and through us.

As Jesus states in this Scripture to Peter, don’t be concern with John’s part in HIS story, but yours. For both of them have a role to share in HIS story. The same is true with us. So let go and let Jesus be the central person in your story. When we do, watch as our part in HIS story becomes more real and rewarding. For HIS story becomes alive and we receive the benefits of HIS Kingdom for ourself, and for the sake of others.

History is HIS story. Current events are unfolding to reveal more of HIS story. The future waits for HIS story to be completed. The Bible gives us a general outline of what to expect. The details are happening as time moves forward. One’s faith only grows when one sees Jesus as Lord, King, and Savior for all humanity. The sad part is when one fails to see HIM as HE truly IS. HE is the hope for all humanity. Hopefully more may come to know HIM, HIS story, and our role with 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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Coming Soon: The Shape of a Faithful Life in a Unfinished World.

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Surrender, Sacrifice, Service

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.   Luke 9:23

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”   Hebrews 13:16

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“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” 1 Corinthians 9:19

Being an adopted child in the family of the Triune circle requires the acceptance of a new paradigm. The family culture follows the pattern of the life of Jesus. HE established the norm. Throughout HIS ministry, HE lived and practiced the Triune way. He lived a life of surrender, sacrifice, and service.

HE taught not only with words, but with HIS actions. HE didn’t ask anything from anyone that HE hasn’t already done himself.

When HE made the statement “to deny yourself, take up your daily cross, and follow HIM,” HE was already doing the same. His entire ministry was focused on following HIS Father’s Will.

When HE met people who ask for his help, HE stopped what HE was doing and obliged. When a person was tied to a rope and flung down from a ceiling in a private house, he didn’t criticize them for destroying the roof. Instead, HE healed them. When someone reached out and touched HIM in the crowded marketplace, HE stopped from HIS task at hand. HE recognized someone in pain. HE didn’t shame them but addressed the person with respect and dignity. HE gave what HE had to help solve their problem at hand.

HE didn’t lord over others, but served them. HE washed his disciples’ feet when needed. HE multiplied a handful of bread and fish to feed five-thousand hungry people. HE healed the sick. HE restored life to those who died. HE gave HIS time and attention to those who were neglected by society.

Surrender, sacrifice, and service are three amigos built from the Christ-followers spiritual DNA. They don’t naturally come. But the Spirit of God is working in us as we yield to HIM. The more we hang out with our heavenly host, the more HIS ways become the norm. The more we practice, the more HIS grace helps us through the process.

Over time we find ourselves living the Triune way. A life of surrender, sacrifice, and service without much effort. A life patterned after Jesus. The Kingdom way. A life that leads to true freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment. God’s way.

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)

Aspirations and Writings Neatly Bound in Book Formats: (* indicates audio version now available
at Apple Books)

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Potty Trained

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

Recently came back from visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The family is currently training our granddaughter how to use the toilet. She is two-and-half years old and plans to start attending nursery school in the fall. But, she needs to be potty trained before acceptance.

This weekend, she was at the stage of being aware of the need. Yet lacked the willpower to stop what she was doing to take care of business. So, the adults in the room would always check-in with her whenever she began to twitch. At first she would ignore the reminder and continue her play. Other times, she would agree and rush to the bathroom.

It is a process we all had to learn. Some of us quickly pick it up. Others take longer. The same can be said about our walk with Jesus.

Initially, we hear the good news. We begin to investigate. We read material from third-party sources. Then we begin to read the Bible ourselves. Like other material we read and master, we begin to practice its teachings. But somewhere we hit the spiritual wall. Our lives are still a mesh. We become frustrated with our growth. We become tired of pushing ourselves away from the temptations. We become confused through all the various influencers on social media. In some ways, it’s like being potty trained. We know the importance of the toilet, but are too busy with what we are doing to stop. We don’t grasp the importance of the moment. We again miss the mark. Sin spoils our life again.

Discipleship involves training the willpower to do good at all times. To recognize evil and have the wisdom and maturity to overcome it. In many ways, it is like being potty trained. When the moment arises, one can do nothing and experience the messy consequence. Or one can find the toilet and manage the discharge quick and efficiently. The same is true in our Christian journey.

We begin with attaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. But failure to execute what we know doesn’t complete the task. We are instructed to renew our minds. To transform our thinking under the governance of God’s Kingdom. But it also requires help from the adults in the room. Church elders who are working along with the Holy Spirit to nudge you toward maturity. To assist you to become the person God has wired you to be in Christ.

Yes, one may say the maturity process begins when one is potty trained.

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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