Relationships

Forgiven People Forgive

Dr. Mike 2023 , ,

Colossians 3:13

“…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.“

Luke 7:47

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Friendship is a two-way street. One gives and the other reciprocates. Both enjoy the relationship and hanging out with each other.

Generally speaking, men associate with others who have similar interests. Women are more complicated and share time with others who have similar characteristics. Generally speaking. What we can agree on is both sexes desire meaningful relationships.

One of the attributes of friendship is the ability to forgive each other. Friends forgive friends. Without forgiveness, relationships breakup.

Our relationship with Jesus began with Him first forgiving us. He demonstrated His love by forgiving us in word and action. He continues to forgive as the relationship grows. As He pours out His love upon us, one cannot help but share His love with others.

As He forgives us, we forgive others. As He has forgiven me, I forgive you. Forgiven people forgive others.

The act of forgiveness is a with-God way of life. God forgives constantly. His way of always keeping the door open for the relationship to grow. God forgives us. We forgive others. Others forgive those in their life. The process continues.

Since God forgives me, I also forgive myself. I may think the self is unworthy of forgiveness, and be right. But God doesn’t. And that is what makes the difference. The God-Man sacrificed His life for me. No matter my actions or heart or thoughts, He forgave me. He determines my worth. Forgiven people forgive.  

As I forgive others, like God has forgiven me, I find myself free to love. I am not bound in chains of vengeance. I am freed from victimhood. Resentment dissipates into sorriness for the other. My prayer is for the other to come know the Triune God and experience the same freedom of grace.

Imagine a world where every person automatically forgave themselves and others. Isn’t this the Kingdom of God in action? Forgiven people forgiving those who don’t deserve to be forgiven. Must be a God thing.

  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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Control Freak

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

1 Corinthians 9:25

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Do you focus on the things you cannot control?

Do you have a strong desire to control the people and environment around you rather than your emotions?

When working on a team, do you have to dictate everyone’s behavior?

Do you believe you know what is best for everyone and make people act a certain way?

Do you focus your time and energy on preventing bad things to happen because of your hidden doubt to manage difficult situations?

Do you find it difficult to delegate tasks? If you do, than do you insist on micromanaging every step of the way?

If you answer yes to any of these, you may be a control freak. As a reformed control addict, I know. I’ve been there. Done it. And have the scars to show.

In my early twenties, still single, and the world my play-box, I struggled to relate with people in the workplace. I was very task-oriented. People were the means to the end. In other words, my self-centered approach was to use people for the things I wanted to do. I egotistically knew best. If you worked for me, it was my way or the highway. It wasn’t pretty.

But, through the grace of God, HE opened my eyes. I repented from the sinful approach of being a dictator of others. Instead, I learn to trust God and His Spirit. I learn to delegate without strings attached. The end result was learning to lead people and manage systems.

How does one learn to best lead others?

The best way is to learn from others. We start first with your relationship with the Triune God. How does He lead you? When He delegates an assignment to you? Does He generally give you specific details in how to carry it out? Or does He simple nudge you in a certain way and allow you to express your personality and skill set? Does He force you to comply? Or does He allow you to choose?

When you have a working relationship with the living God, you learn from Him. You experience the fruit of mutual submission. You learn the importance of self-control over controlling others. You learn to give space for others to reflect God’s character in them. You allow people to become who God created them to be. You take part with Him and others in their adventurous journey of transformation in Christ.

Yes, being a control freak reduces your potential as a person. You rob yourself from fully experiencing the power of trusting God. You weaken your relationship with Him. Faith becomes only a word. You isolate yourself from allowing God’s Spirit to fully transform you into His image. You end up fighting against Him. You hurt yourself in the process. You also hurt those whom you love.

When you force people to submit to your whims, you also rob God the opportunity to fully express His character through them. You play god. You become an idol. You are stealing from Him. You are preventing people around you to become the person God created them to be.

I also had the opportunity to work for two gentlemen who taught me the godly way of balancing relationships with business outcomes. They exercised integrity and character in all their relationships. God knew what I needed at the time and provided the environment and means to change my ways.

Yes, we are all broken. Some more than others. But broken still. So when God’s Spirit opens your eyes to see yourself in the mirror of Jesus, don’t hesitate. Repent. Ask Him to show you and empower you to become more like Him. This includes admitting our sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings. It hurts the pride meter. But this is good. When you allow His Spirit full entrance into your heart and mind, you will begin to experience more of God’s fruit. Yes, there will be stumbles. There will be short-term failure. But the road leads to Him.

With Him, you become less of a control freak and more of a trusting comrade working with Him to extend His Kingdom. You will more fully grasp the love of God. You will work along with the Holy Spirit. You will align His purpose with your micro plans to live a full, abiding life in Christ. And you will enrich the lives of others along the way.     

Yes, when I became a Jesus freak, I waved goodbye being a control freak.

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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Finished. Done. Now What?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

2 Corinthians 5:20

…be reconciled to God.

Ephesians 5:1

…be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Religion is man’s attempt to appease their god. They desire to obtain favor today and reserve a place in heaven tomorrow when their human life is over. The rituals, rules, and observations are designed to make one feel good about one’s effort to be righteous before their god. The “to do list” of religious practices are as short or as long as the community one participates in.

Christianity, many times, is erroneously categorized or practiced in a similar manner. Yet, when one reads the New Testament one realizes Jesus Christ truly turned the entire world right side up with a new paradigm of salvation. Salvation is not something you and I need to do, but something to be. Salvation is a relationship with the living God.

We all like to think we are good because we occasionally do good things for others. And we think because we are good, we have a place reserved for us in heaven. Sure, we may at times mess up, but 51% of the time, we do more good than bad. Thus, we justifiably have earned the right to be in heaven. This is what many people incorrectly believe what the Bible teaches.   

But nowhere in the Bible does it say good people will go to heaven. Instead, Jesus spoke about repentant sinners entering His kingdom before the righteous Pharisee. The apostle Paul writes in Romans that no one is righteous before God, all have sinned, and none are good before God (Rm. 3:10,23).

What saves you is not your good deeds, but a God-Man. He took on human flesh and lived a perfect life without sin. He sacrificed himself on behalf of all humanity to restore our relationship with God Almighty. The fact is Jesus Christ lived a vicarious life for you and me. So now we have direct contact with the Divine. We are adopted into the inner circle of the Triune God.

Jesus Christ saved you and me. Past tense. Done. Finished.

But what does that mean for you and me now? Glad you asked.

Paul writes that we are now to “be reconciled to God.” And again, “be imitators of God as beloved children.”  Being already saved by Jesus Christ, we are now to focus our entire being to walk with God, to be one with Him, and to imitate Him in our dealings with each other.

Like children playing grownup, we are to put on His garments and act and behave in similar ways. We are to make His values and viewpoint ours. Like the disciples of their rabbi, we watch, observe, discuss and ponder with Him whatever and wherever He invites us to participate with Him. We are His student, His sibling, His bond-servant. We are to develop a personal, meaningful relationship with Him.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pt. 3:18). It is coming to have so much faith in Him, your life explodes with His character and His Spirit being fully expressed through you for the sake of others. Your worldview becomes centered around the Triune God and His work. Life becomes a love adventure. God’s love overflows within you and you cannot help share His love with everyone you meet.

Yes, Jesus did the impossible for you and me. So now, through Him and in Him and for Him, He has equipped and empowered us to be free to do the same for each other.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler

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