forgiveness

What Is Your Biggest Problem?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Romans 7:15-20

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”

What is the biggest problem you have to face each day?

I know mine.

Yes, I am about fifteen pounds overweight. My cholesterol is on the high side. My mental capacity not as sharp as in my mid-thirties. Arthritis is making its appearance in my big toe. The hearing from my one side is only about 50% normal. I have the tenancy to behave obnoxiously when tired. My house projects take three times longer and cost twice more than someone gifted with their hands. I’ve had more investment failures than the creative mind could list. More times than not, I say the wrong words at the most inappropriate moment. I could also continue about relationship issues, work tragedies, and financial failures. Also there are those mental gaps, recreational trauma, and social blunders. The list seems endless.

So what is the central core of all these problems? Would you believe “ME.”

Many of these problems are caused by my desires. Other issues are caused by outside forces which I did not properly respond too. But even these problems are the end result of misbeliefs, illusions, and self lies. All because of my adherence to be satisfied.

Whether the facts are true or not, whether someone gets hurt or not, whether there is a better way, doesn’t matter. At that moment, me, myself, and I need to please the inner desires of my flesh.

Yes, I am my biggest problem.

Yet my biggest problem always leads to the biggest solution. I am thankful for Jesus Christ, HIS work of salvation, and HIS mission of restoration.

It is not my responsibility to save the world. That is HIS job.

My responsibility is to serve him and allow the Holy Spirit to morph my heart, mind, and soul after HIS image.

Yes, there is a battle raging between my carnal desires and the divine nature. I now know the taste of each of their fruits.

Apostle Paul wrote Romans some twenty years after his conversion. He was still struggling with the deception of sin. The longer we live, the more we become aware of the ugliness of sin that resides in each of us. But at the same time, we are thankful for a Comforter and Healer of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we battle every day between the forces of sinful desires and divine wants. As we mature, we realize the problem is not those around us, but ourselves. As we age, we learn to exercise more patience with others. We learn to love others as Christ loves us. We learn others will occasionally harm us as we have inadvertently harm them. Yet, as Christ sacrificed his life for us, HE also sacrificed himself for them.

Jesus is the answer to my biggest problem. I am so grateful for his intervention. Soon, more and more people will come to realize HE is also the solution to their biggest problem. Possibly even you if you have not already accepted HIM as your Lord and Savior.           

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Grace and Forgiveness

Dr. Mike grace , ,

Colossians 1:14

…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Both my parents were prisoners of war during World War II. They each worked in separate labor prisons in southern Germany for a good portion of the entire war. How each responded afterward throughout their life from the negative impact of such an ordeal is a lesson I remind myself each day.

They both carried scars from their ordeal as slaves under the Nazi regime. Yet Dad’s was less noticeable than Mom’s. In fact, Dad seem to take those ugly events, put it behind him, and gracefully launch himself into a productive, fulfilling life even with health battles. Mom on the other hand, never seem to forget the past, continually blaming everyone whose hand she suffered under, and always considered herself a victim of circumstances. In hindsight, their 50+ year marriage is a good case study of the after effects between freedom and slavery.

Dad and Mom were both religious, but Dad quietly practice his faith while Mom only played the part.

As Dad would always remind us, God protected him so many times during the war and throughout life, he was grateful to live in America and build a comfortable home for his family. He only had an eighth-grade education, but a strong character developed through hard work, personal responsibility, and love of God which molded him and was expressed through his skills and temperament.

Mom though never let the past die. She was a very intelligent woman and hard worker likewise with only an eighth-grade education. She could speak five languages, and cook a banquet for an army. Yet her personal demons never died. She never forgave the people who hurt her, always blaming others for her suffering, and viewed the world from a victim mentality.  

Both Dad and Mom suffered similar trials. Yet both responded in different fashions. Dad yielded himself to God, besides praying twice a day on his knees in the living room early mornings and before bedtime in the evening, he related with others through a mirror of humility and strong character. He didn’t understand theology but knew His God was real and with him.

Mom believed God, but wouldn’t allow Him full access to change her from the inside-out. She always had to maintain control and her pride blocked anyone entrance into her heart. Like many people today who unbeknownst struggle with victim mentality, she had everything physically around her that was the good life, but inwardly continually and repeatedly fought a war which technically ended in 1945 but remained active in her heart and mind till her death some 70 years later.

People who haven’t learned the importance and necessity of forgiving others live lives being suffocated from their own bitterness and anger. Instead of accepting the beauty currently around them in the present, they keep reliving the past. They find it difficult to let go of the emotional hurt and gladly join others who share in the same misery. In many ways, they don’t realize or accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.         

As Christ-followers, we know our heavenly Father has adopted us into His family and given us a Spirit of freedom. But we need to allow His Spirit full access into our heart and mind to change our values, perspective, and worldview. Freedom requires personal responsibility and strong humility. Anyone can abuse freedom, but to maintain and unify relationships requires the freedom to respect others even when we don’t agree with the other. And most importantly, when we are done wrong, the quicker we learn to forgive and move on, the more freedom grows and opportunities abound.

I am thankful for Dad and Mom giving me life and allowing me to learn from them. I am also most thankful for our Great God who continues to shower His grace upon us and teach us how to live through the struggles, trials and tests of life that shapes and prunes the eternal character being developed within this soul. For the same reason, I believe you and I have more in common than we openly want to admit.  All because of the central work of Jesus Christ.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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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Re-Do

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms ,

Romans 5:20 (NASB)

…but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…

redo1

There is more grace than sin available for your life (Romans 5 & 6). Just as God is greater than any sin, His grace is also always more than whatever sin enslaves you.  Not that you deliberately choose to sin and abuse His grace, but when we disappointingly fail for the umpteen time, his grace is more than enough for you to try again.

For God’s grace corners the market on do-overs, second chances, and the opportunity to try again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, etc.

When you realize life is a learning process preparing you and I for eternity, do-overs are a part of the process of growth. Like any professional endeavor which requires time and diligent effort to master, so does discipleship.

For example, Peter denied Jesus three times. But after Jesus poured out his grace upon him on the beach after His resurrection, Peter boldly spoke His name wherever he went.

When Saul the Jewish persecutor of Christians was knocked off his high horse when confronted by Jesus, he redirected his life mission to serving Christ rather than fighting him.

During our life journey, we will likewise be knocked down, rugs pulled from under us, lied too, gossiped about, reputation driven through the mud, fired, beaten, misunderstood, put our foot in our mouth, kicked from behind, succumb to our addictions, introduced to new vices, and this is only the start of the list. Through all of this, you can be assured that our heavenly Father still loves you and will continue to pour out His grace upon you.

He has promised He will complete the work He has started in you.

You only have to keep trying again, and again, and again…He will do the rest.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
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

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2018 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved