Kingdom of God

Pre-eminence Belongs To The King

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , , , , ,

SEEDS 2

Do you recall in the early grades when you competed with other students in speed-reading?  You and they would probably take turns being the first one to read any material and then recall the contents for the teacher.  Was our motivation to read with speed and comprehension or simply to be first?  Later in life when you were playing sports, was it to be the best you could be or to be the best among your peers?  Likewise in college while wasting time in the student activity center playing cards with your peers, was it to win all the time, or just to be better than your peers?  Did you walk away with a trophy or two back then, but if you were honest with your motivation was it to be the best player or the internal drive to be better than your peers?

Throughout life, those of us with a competitive or achievement spirit tend to have a strong motivation to be number one among our peers. When we sold, who had to he # 1 at the end of the year in sales? When we did whatever, can we admit our motivation was to be the best in comparison with our peers, no matter what the price?.  If you are like many of us, we have a strong internal drive that we can’t control but had to be satisfied. It would drive us in whatever we did.  It wasn’t until we totally surrendered our life to God that this motivation dissipated and eventually disappeared.

In scripture, we read how Satan wasn’t content in being a servant of God, but wanted to be in charge of God’s Kingdom. He persuaded one-third of the angles to work with him to overthrow God from His throne. But instead of victory, he learned that God is in control and no one is going to remove Him from His Office. Likewise, we have come to learn who is Number One in our life.

There is a great sense of peace and contentment knowing that you don’t have to be better than anyone else. That God wants you to be the best you can be. That we are all created differently but distinctly in the image of God with the purpose to live for all eternity working with Him in whatever is best suited for us.  In fact, nowadays instead of seeking pre-eminence, we find ourselves serving others with more joy than ever before.  Instead of trying to become number one, we work at helping others to excel.  Instead of seeking the glory for self, we let it shine upon others.

As a disciple of His, we find it easier to put the pre-eminence where it belongs and that is on Jesus.  Instead of crawling over one another and competing against one another, we find it easier to place Jesus central and learn to serve Him and those He chooses to send our way.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Glorified Dad, thank you for being number one in our life.  There is a great sense of peace and comfort knowing that no matter what we do or accomplish you will always be the Best in our book.  Help us to see others through your eyes. Help us to serve others through your eyes.  Help us to build up others especially those you have placed into the church.

Thank you for the assurance and faith to live this life as your child and pupil. Thank you for your tutoring and thank you for the privilege of serving others.  Help us channel the energy you give us to serving others and revealing you as first in life.  Whenever the opportunity comes, help us to always place you first in the eyes of others and keep this servant in humble submission to your Kingdom.  Amen.

Your Consultant & Coach for Christ-Centered
Business Owners & Executives

Dr. Mike

Author of Great Business Emulates a Good God

Does God Make Sense?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , , ,

When Job lost his family, and his earthly possessions were taken away, plus his health destroyed with boils, did he consider that time in life to make any sense? When Joseph was taken into slavery to Egypt and locked up in jail for over ten years, did he make sense of his current situation?  When the apostle Paul found himself left stoned to death, shipwrecked, beaten, pursued by his enemies of the cross. did he consider his current situation to make any sense?

When we stop and look at our present time, do we ever ask if it makes any sense?  Though most of us are not a Paul, Joseph, nor Job with no major specific mission in life; where history will not record our accomplishments to the masses. In fact, most of our lives are quite normal and most the time uneventful. And frankly, most of us enjoy it that way. But, does it make any sense?

We live in America, the Disney Country of the planet earth. We have the choice to live anywhere that is affordable for us. Wehave the opportunity to educate ourselves at any university if we apply our self. We could pursue whatever occupation interests us. We have the opportunity to select our own mate and have as many children as physically possible. We also have the opportunity to worship at the church of our choice. We probably have more than enough in physical comforts and may even begin to feel guilty whenever we acquire more. But does our present situation make sense?

If tomorrow we lost everything we own; if our world fell apart and we are taken into prison for something we didn’t do. If we are beaten and left .for dead, would our present situation make sense?

The answer of course is that as a disciple of His, everything makes sense. Nothing will separate us from the love of God. As His disciple, He is the center of our universe; the center of our life. He makes our situation make sense. No matter where we find ourselves, no matter what the situation, no matter what the outcome, He is in control. Our agreement with Him is to surrender all and He will make sense of it all.

He is creating a masterpiece in each one of us and collectively in His universal Church. In our almost forty years following Christ, no matter what ignorant decisions, actions, or events that have taken place, He has always been with me. When evil surrounds us or death knocks at our door, we may not have fully realized it at the time, but in hindsight, He is always around and in control. There is a great purpose being worked out here below and we are a part of it. Yes it takes faith. But isn’t that one part of the armor of a Christ­ follower? And shouldn’t a disciple of His be wearing that armor every day?

Does your present situation make sense? Or maybe the question really is, “Does God make sense?”  Only when we faithfully answer that question, will our present situation make sense.

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 9

Dear Purposeful Dad, thank you for being in control. Thank you for taking care of the small details of life. But mostly, thank you for being involved in our life.

Help us to yield ourselves into your hands, to trust you in all of life’s circumstances and situations. Help us to see the circumstances that you present to us as opportunities to witness to your great power in our life. We pray, glorify your name by creating your masterpiece in us. Take the circumstances that we find ourselves in and change our heart to be like yours. Change the heart of those around us to be like yours. Change the circumstances if you believe that to be the best solution, but more importantly, take the present situation and reveal your Greatness through it. Let others see your magnificence. Let us see your magnificence. Let others know that you know us and care for us. Let your life abide in us and in you.

Let us not try to make sense of the situation we are in. We do not ask why. Instead we ask that you take our present situation and magnify yourself through it.

Let your glory abound. Let your Word abound. Let the Holy Spirit abound. Let your  Kingdom abound. Help us abound for your name’s sake.  In Jesus we ask. Amen.

Dr. Mike

 

What’s It All About?

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ , , , , , , ,

Jesus came to redeem the world. Since Adam & Eve rebelled against God, this world’s beauty has become disarrayed by evil. As a people we have messed up almost everything we have touched. We have tried to create a world order apart from God. But the good news is that through Jesus each one of us has the opportunity to taste how life was initially created to be.

Sin is an old-fashion term but a modern day event. Many people don’t even know what the definition of sin is. There are those who make it into some religious ritual. There are others who call sin anything that is fun and enjoyable. Others define it only as an action and not a thought. Some define it as a spirit or attitude that opposes the Will of God.

sin3

The Bible provides us with several definitions of sin. Whether we miss the mark, transgress the law, break His commandments, rebel against God, live alienated from Him, or perform any action without faith, hope, and love are all symptoms of sin. We are surrounded in sin and many of us are even saturated in sin. We lavish in sin and even enjoy the pleasure of sin. But until sin’s penalties leave its mark on us causing pain and sorrow, we live life trying to ignore it.

Many of us try to manage sin. We believe we are stronger than any sin that comes our way. We seek temptation rather than flee from it. Many times we are blind to sin’s attempt of capturing us. We walk right into sin’s traps like a dodo bird in a fashion show. We parade our stuff only to lose again at evil’s game.

The Bible also states that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. We all must die. There is no escaping that fact from planet earth. The question remains then what? If there is no life hereafter, than we might as well party and wallow in our sins. If this is all that there is, than mankind is one cruel joke. Simply put, if Jesus lived His life like history records it, than many of us better look twice. For either He is the Messiah or He is not. If He is not, than we better have sufficient proof. But if He is, like many who believe He is, why not accept His offer?

His desire is that you enter into a relationship with Him and His Dad now and for all eternity. His plan includes everyone that freely and willfully accepts His offer. His offer includes all the benefits of being a child of God. His plan is to bring you back into the Family of God, to redeem you from this world and sin, to grant you His gift of eternal life and all its treasures. His desire is that your life be rich and successful like His. Daddy knows best. Why not accept His offer?

OUR PRAYER

PRAY 8

Our Wonderful Dad, thank you for being so merciful with us. Thank you for allowing us the freedom to choose. We know there are many who choose you out of fear. There are those who choose you out of self-preservation. But we also know that there are many that choose you because of your love. You are the most loving, giving, gracious being we have ever known. We thank you for being involved in our life Though we are sinful with a natural disposition towards sin, we thank you for loving us even in our sins. Help us to live life away from sin. Change our heart with Your Spirit. Keep sin and its power away from us. Let the righteousness of Jesus surround us. Bathe us with your righteousness. Wash us thoroughly from all that we naturally are. Let your Holiness abide in us without pain or discomfort. Let your Home always be within us and let our home always be with You. Thank you Jesus for everything in your name. Amen.

Dr. Mike