Kingdom of God

Trained in God’s Family Business

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , , ,

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”   Matthew 13:52

During my career, I had the opportunity to meet key leaders of various businesses. Some of them inherited their companies from parents and grandparents. But each had a similar story to tell. They all would state nothing was given to them without a heavy cost of lessons learned along the way. Their stories showcased the work ethic and discipline they faced each day. They learned the business from the bottom-up.

I changed their names, but the situations are accurate.

Adam started working in his dad’s company the summer he turned sixteen. He was shy, reserved, and quiet. His dad gave me the honors to find something for him to do in the accounting department. We tried him in various roles until we discovered he was a natural working with spreadsheets. Today he is the president and owner of this major national real estate company.

Robert graduated from U of M with a degree in business. His father owned a large national investment company. Instead of bringing him into the company, dad worked out a deal with his son. The son would have a small, closet size office within his organization but not work for him. Instead, his son started his own company. A one-person operation. Dad would only support him with advice and counseling when asked. He drew no salary and lived on what he made. Over the next several years, he learned the trade from the bottom-up. He was the receptionist, janitor, accountant, sales manager, and CEO. The long days and hard work paid off over time. Today he is the CEO of his company which is the largest private-owner in the industry.

There are dozens more examples I could share with you. They all have one common theme. They all took the opportunity in front of them and paid their dues. They learned and grew in preparation of leadership. They all knew when starting out they were not ready to seize the mantle of running the company. But they also knew as they mastered the material in front of them, they would one day be ready for the CEO role. They all started at the bottom of the ladder and worked their way up.

Is not that the same for us Christ-followers? God’s Kingdom is Father-Son-Spirit’s family business. Today, HIS disciples are being prepared to lead and serve under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom on earth today. We learn to govern ourselves. To serve others. And produce good work for the glory of God. We do so knowingly we are being trained for greater responsibilities into eternity (Rev 5:10). The work may seem small in our eyes at the moment. But those little tasks and small choices build upon each other into larger tasks and choices (Matt 25:21).

I always enjoyed Dallas Willard’s line, “Christ-followers are being trained to reign.” Genesis one and the last chapter of Revelation reveals this mandate for humanity. God wants life to flourish and humanity to govern the earth. As we operate under the Kingdom of God, God’s family business, the more we experience the treasures of HIS domain.

Yes, life is a learning process preparing one for eternity with Jesus. We all start somewhere at the bottom. But we all have a chair waiting for us at the table with Jesus in HIS family business. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, put forth the effort, and allow God’s grace cover us as we learn the family business.

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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The Inclusive Gospel

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:36

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(Paul)…proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.  Acts 28:31

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But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.   Ephesians 2:4-7

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 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.   Ephesians 2:18-22

When the gospel message is preached, what do you normally hear? Is it not from a humanistic perspective? The emphasis so often is on us humans in need for a savior. So, the central point preached is on Jesus as Savior. A true statement. But is it the main point or only one of its tenants? For when preached, people think that is all there is. But as one grows in the faith, one comes to appreciate the rest of the story. I like to summarize the gospel message like this:

  • Jesus Christ is Lord.
  • God’s Kingdom Rules.
  • God has a Purpose for Humanity.
  • You are Included.

Within this outline is built the necessary steps of repentance and belief in Jesus. That HE is the Jewish Messiah and global Savior. Yet the gospel message involves more. It highlights that Jesus defeated Satan and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. HE now has all authority over heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). That Satan knows his time is short and now operates on earth as a terrorist. His game plan is to prevent or just slow down God’s plan for humanity. For God’s purpose from the foundation of the world is to raise a family. To prepare and train HIS children to reign within the family business – the Kingdom of God. The devil knows it. And is doing everything in his power to make God and his children fail.

Jesus, the God-Man, died, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. When HE did, the curtain that separated humanity from God was ripped in two. No longer do people need to sacrifice animals, or work through a human mediator. Instead, every person now has direct access to our heavenly Father through Jesus.

But there is more.

When one accepts Jesus as their Lord, HE sends the Holy Spirit to impregnate you. God’s divine spirit merges with your human spirit. The work of sanctification then begins (2 Thess. 2:13). As you walk, talk, and hang out with the Triune God, your character and attitude changes. You begin to reflect your heavenly Father’s demeanor. You are being morphed into the image of Jesus Christ.

As you mature, your new beliefs and outlook begin to influence the world around you. You colonize your personal life, your home life, and your work life under the authority of the Kingdom of God. You are being trained to serve and lead as Jesus would. You are being prepared for eternity. And yes, you are included.

But like an adopted child, you can either choose to accept and take part in the family affairs, or not. In rebelling, you will lose out in the family blessings. But when you extend your appreciation for being accepted, you are grateful. You look for ways to share in the family experience.

Yes, you are included in the gospel message.

For the good news is about Jesus, HIS Kingdom, and your inclusiveness in HIS family plan. So, you are either now living under HIS authority in your life or not. You are either participating with HIM on earth or not. You are on mission with HIM or not. The real question now is, where will you go from here?

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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Engage God’s Government

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , ,

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.   Romans 14:17

The gospel message of the Kingdom of God was a strong motivating influence for the early Church. When you read the Book of Acts, the good news being preached was about Jesus Christ and HIS Kingdom (Acts 8:12, 28:13, 28:31). Whether a Jew or a Gentile, the message resonated to the people who lived under an authoritative government. If you were a Roman citizen, you had special privileges. If you were the other two/thirds of the population, you struggled to put food on the table for your family. But if you expressed your allegiance to Caesar, submitted yourself to the government, you had a better chance to survive.

In this pagan culture of many gods, entered the message of Jesus and HIS Kingdom. The Jewish messiah who was raised from the dead. When walking on earth, taught a way of life contrary to the norm. HE perform miracles healing people from major diseases and even raising them from the dead. He claim to be a king. But HIS kingdom was not yet of this world, but to appear in the future. Until then though, one could live under its rule and benefit from its presence.

Enter today. HIS government is still available. I became more familiar with its operations and methods as a student of organizational leadership. While working on my graduate degree in management, I was challenged by our professor. He taught us over a thirteen week period all the latest theories and methods of leading people within organizations. But concluded the course with the statement that none of it actually works. The proof is in the real world. His final statement for us was to go out into the world and discover what does work.

When he made that statement, the Holy Spirit must have convicted me. Then and there I accepted the challenge to show how God’s Kingdom is the best way to lead people and manage systems. The rest is now history.

At the time there were few books on business and faith. So one had to do their research through the pages of the Bible. And so I did. That started a stewardship career leading organizations with a Kingdom of God perspective. Yes, I made some poor judgements in the process. But learned. We witness how living and working under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom allows one to witness God’s amazing grace in action.

In hindsight, most people want God’s gift of joy and peace in their world. But, don’t want HIM. They believe through their own efforts they can make themselves happy. They can make themselves tranquil.  They can experience godliness apart from the Maker. So they work hard. They manipulate circumstances their way. They use people as the means to their end. And yes, they may reap material prosperity along the way, but their inner-world is in turmoil. The stress and tension leaves them looking twenty years older than they are. Their outer world looks impressive. But their inner-world hurts.

When one lives under the tutelage of Jesus Christ, one obtains the benefits of HIS domain and HIS Spirit. As one builds a relationship with the King of the Heavens, one finds a teacher, Lord, and friend along the way. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, one inherits a whole list of good things (read the first chapter of Ephesians). One is blessed beyond measure. One’s life becomes full of the fruit of HIS Spirit. Yes, one learns when one seeks HIS Kingdom first, HE can be trusted. HIS promises of all the other necessary needs also come packaged together.

You may want to read Brother Lawrence’s classic book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He lived a life as a friar serving in the kitchen of a monastery. To him, the kitchen was like a chapel. He experienced God’s presence while he prepared meals and worked to keep the kitchen in operation. He shows how we can do likewise in our everyday life.

So if you haven’t yet learned how to live under the presence of Lord Jesus and HIS Kingdom, give it a try. Ask HIM to show you how and then begin.

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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