Kingdom of God

Coward or Conquer

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Revelations 21:7-8

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

One day, we who are thirsty for righteousness will receive Godly satisfaction. HE has promised us eternal life with full honors of membership in HIS family. But until then, we are being trained for leadership as servants of the living God.

The apostle John writes certain behavior is going to be eliminated from the surrounding culture when God reestablishes HIS throne room on earth. I listed these characteristics below compared with their favorable opposite.

                Unacceptable                             Recommended

                Cowardly                                   Courageous

                Faithless                                     Loyal

                Detestable                                  Honorable

                Murderers                                  Life-Givers

                Sexually Immoral                     Sexually Virtuous

                Sorcerers                                  God Supporters

                Idolaters                                  Triune God Worshiper

                Liars                                         Truth Bearers    

The Holy Spirit is now working with Christ-followers preparing them for eternity. In God’s house, HIS family emulates characteristics of their Father. These recommended traits are the outer expression of an inner heart. As God lives in you, HE is working in you and through you as you move through your daily routines.

The more you learn who God IS and allow HIM entrance into your heart and mind, the more you will display HIS characteristics in your life. Question: Who doesn’t want to be more like the most successful, enjoyable, loving Being in the universe? Answer: Only those who haven’t been properly introduced to HIM.

The more you capture HIS vision for humanity, the more enthralled you become with HIS work.

The more you discover HIS vision for you, the more engaged you become with matching your work within HIS mission.

The more you participate with HIS work, the more intrigued you become with serving others for HIS glory.

Your surrounding world becomes a mini Kingdom of God. You rejoice living under HIS favor. You gladly enhance the lives of those around you. You begin to better understand HIS way to govern people. You understand the importance of marriage, family, and community. You learn to balance the value of the individual and society. You slowly take on more responsibility to improve the world around you.

Yes, courage is required to fully live out HIS ways. Society may cancel you. Your unengaged friends will leave you. Your tiny world may even shrink tinier. But God is with you. HE will carry you and support you as you support HIM. HE will direct your steps and bring people into your world to help you march with HIM in HIS work. HE will show you and lead you to become a conqueror.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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What Is Truly Important?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , , ,

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

How does one best maximize leverage of time and resources to live a full and enriching life?

When one understands the wisdom of building your life on the foundation of eternal values, you have an advantage over most people. Many of us awake one day to realize our efforts over the last umpteen years hasn’t given us the results we anticipated. We have climb the worldly ladder of success only to find the view disappointingly unappealing on the wrong wall.  So, we move the ladder to another wall and climb again. Only to find over the years the same unfulfilled result.

Shocking to most, the issue is not which wall we climb, but the ladder we use for the climb. When you consider each step of the ladder as values, the ladder with eternal values will lead to a more abundant life than a ladder with humanistic ideals.

Most of us start climbing with ladders built by sincere people with great intentions but without a clue of the types of ladders available for our use. If a stool is all you need to reach the top of the shelf, than use a stool. But if you have to climb multiple floors, than a stronger, well-built proven ladder is required. The same is true when leveraging life’s goals.

Jesus provides us with critical values which when employed allows one to climb the walls placed before us with the certainty of the end result. The ladder HE provides is one built for eternal purposes because for HIM this life is only a learning process preparing one for leadership and service in HIS Kingdom.

When one places her foot on each step of HIS ladder, each movement has the assurance and confidence of when reaching the top, the view will be better than anticipated. No matter how strong the wind blows, or when the ground shakes, we simply look at the foot of the ladder and see Jesus holding the ladder in place rooting us upward toward HIS view and purpose of life.

If you need a review what Jesus values, reread the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew’s gospel chapter six. The prayer identifies the hierarchy of values from God and HIS kingdom to personal needs and human relations. Each value is the foundational step you and I need to live a full and enriching life today while being prepared for eternity tomorrow.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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First Things First

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , , ,

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Put first things first is a tagline and principle I initially read about over thirty years ago where the author Mr. Stephen Covey discussed the habits of highly successful people. Prior to Mr. Covey’s book, C.S. Lewis also wrote about always prioritizing the first thing first. He added that when the second thing becomes the first thing in one’s life, one will lose out on both. However, when the first thing is pursued over the second thing, the second thing comes along in the process.

This same principle Jesus spoke to HIS audience some two thousand years earlier but added the main thing. After discussing the human aspects people pursue in this physical world, and the anxiety and stress one subjects themselves from the process, HIS sermon on the mount (Matt. 5–7) emphasized the primary first objective needs to be accepting God’s authority and value system in our lives.

When we come to realize God’s Kingdom is HIS way of governing people (also the spiritual realm) to live in harmony, and HIS moral character is the compass which provides boundaries to safeguard lives, plus HIS attributes highlight the priceless values to attain an abundant life, when followed as the first objective in one’s life, leads to a flourishing and fulfilling life for oneself and others. Outside of God’s Kingdom, people may steal their way to a better life at the expense of all others, but God’s selfless way allows everyone who participates to float toward the top.  

Life is a learning process preparing you and I for eternity. We gain a taste of HIS ways when we put into practice HIS governing principles being led by HIS Spirit under the tutelage of Jesus Christ. When we understand how HIS Kingdom operates and follow HIS examples of human relations and doing good work, plus focus our worship on HIM, we begin to reflect HIS ways which leads to a life of governing the self through the Spirit, serving others in Christ’s name, and producing Kingdom results in your corner of the world.

When one captures the vision of God’s Kingdom, begins to implement HIS ways of governing the self and others, and reflects Christ’s character in all matters, one is pleasantly surprised by how all the other secondary things fall into place. Put first things first and the rest will be added to you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler Learn & Grow:  

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