suffering

Sacrifice, Suffering, Service

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Jesus Christ is our reference point. As Christ-followers we study HIS life and learn to live life as HE did. Though each of us have unique personalities along with different sets of DNA, we collectively gravitate towards HIS  values and macro-purpose.

His teachings pierced the humanistic approach toward life. His attitude, mannerism, and behavior clashed with the authorities of that time. His worldview opened the eyes of the common people to capture God’s vision.

Unbridled human nature longs for more portions, power, and pleasure. Yet Jesus came along and demonstrated the value of sacrifice, suffering, and service. Which is more commercially or politically attractive to you?

If we are honest, our inclination is to want more, thinking these items will please our internal desire. Yet when one directs their life towards altruistic sacrifice, suffering, and service, the outcome is a more Christlike spirit touching your heart while impacting others for HIS glory. The abundant life Jesus taught his disciples becomes a reality in your world when you follow HIM.

Sacrifice is an attribute of the good life. To sacrifice means you are the master of your possessions. Money, time or any other physical item doesn’t control you and longer. Yes, it may hurt at first as you battle your inner demons. But as you let go and give to another from your plenty, they benefit by your action, and so do you. Jesus demonstrated his entire life the value of sacrificing for others. He left eternity to become finite. He was tempted at the beginning of his ministry to immediately pursue political, religious, and economic power for himself. But declined the offer to fulfill his divine purpose laid out from the beginning of time. And of course, he gave up his life to pay the ransom for humanity. Love is sacrificial.

Suffering unmasks our humanity. When comfort turns into pain, we rebel. We shy away from those who suffer because of the awkwardness. Some may run away because of the insecure inability to solve the problem. Yet, most of the time people don’t want your advice or solution but a concern ear. Personal suffering introduces us to a small taste of the pain Jesus went through on Calvary. When someone removes our pain and accepts to carry it  in our place, real love is demonstrated. Suffering reminds us of King Jesus’ sacrificial love in HIS ultimate action of redeeming humanity from the powers of evil.

Service belittles power. Power operates from a position of influential fear. But perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn. 4:18). When one serves from a position of love, one breaks down walls of injustice, hatred, and envy. To serve others is the highest calling within the Kingdom of God. In God’s government, its citizens serve one another out of respect and humility. Jesus demonstrated over and over again that he came to serve others and not lord over them. His heart was always to uplift others and help them draw closer to his Father in heaven. When others asked for help, he did. If unable, he explained the reason why. In most cases HE didn’t have permission from HIS Father to make happen. Service is love in action.

Welcome to sainthood. The anti-cultural way of experiencing the abundant life to the fullest. Yes, sacrifice, suffering, and service are the hallmarks of Christ-followers. Our carnal nature despises such a path. But the Divinity that lives within us magnifies such an approach. When we allow HIM to lead us through the jungles of life, His character and ways rub off on us. Overtime, we become more and more like him. One day, we will be like HIM in character. We will behold HIM in full glory with our own eyes in the eternal home. Yes, HE is now preparing you and I for eternity.  Until then, practice.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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Why Graceful Pain?

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV.

graceful pain 2

Have you ever petition the Lord for help but the problem remains? Maybe God is telling you something that may be difficult for you to hear. Maybe the unwanted situation is for your good. Maybe He has already answered your prayer. Maybe He is blessing you with graceful pain.

Graceful pain is what Paul learned to accept for his sake. The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically what the pain was, except that it negatively impacted his flesh. He asked God three different times to remove it. But instead of removing it, God informed Him that it was for Paul’s benefit. From this crutch, Paul would live in humility rather than give conceit room to grow.

God is no respecter of persons. If He blessed Paul with the means to enjoy life through graceful pain, who are we do be any different? Our pain may be physical, mental, emotional, financial, or social. No matter the area, maybe God is revealing Himself to us through these unwanted means. Maybe He is growing us more effectively as we lean on Him. Maybe as we realize our weakness, we also see His power and strength at work in us.

So, if we have petitioned our Lord at least three different times without the answer we desire, maybe we need to see the benefits of our situation from His perspective. Maybe the trials we are currently traveling through are His mercies in disguise. Maybe living without graceful pain would be more harmful for us at this season of life than not. Maybe this period of pain is God’s blessing for us to see how strong we actually are in Him.

Paul boasted of his weaknesses. Maybe we need to do the same.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Beaten, Busted, Broken

Dr. Mike Journey in Christ, Life in Christ , , , ,
” For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” Job: 3:25-26 ESV

job 3

Life has a tendency to throw us lemons. Those who are positive thinkers, state that we need to transform the lemons into lemonade. Yet what about us who are not equipped to make it happen? Not everyone has the talent or character to pick up one self and rise up to the occasion. Or maybe this time the challenge is larger than anything we have faced before and we don’t know where to turn to. Now what?

At times like this I am comforted by God’s reply to Job’s challenge. Job was the wealthiest person in his neck of the woods. He had a large family and was known throughout the community for his philanthropic work. He was the picture of success. Even God claimed that He was blameless.

Yet bad things do happen to good people. In Job’s case, he was the pawn in a wager between God and Satan. God gave Satan authority to do whatever he wanted but spare his life. So with his walking papers, Satan destroyed Job’s business, family, and health. By the time Satan was done, Job was beaten, busted, and broken.

He was physically disabled with chronic pain. He was financially ruined. His wife deserted him. His immediate family taken away. He was left alone beaten, busted, and broken. Yet he never disowned His God. In fact, besides his three companions who tried to comfort him, but ended up throwing spiritual daggers into his side, he spent the time seeking answers from God. As the events unfolded, God finally granted him his day in court where Job eventually repented from his thinking and acknowledged God’s greatness and faithfulness.

God restored Job with more at the end of his crisis than before his broken, busted, and beaten state. What is it that I find encouraging about the entire ordeal?

Simply that God was always with him. Even when God wages a bet with others, he does so knowing that the final outcome is going to be better than if He did nothing. For most of us, we shall experience a Good Friday event in our life. Hopefully, if we hang in there long enough, we shall also experience a Resurrection Sunday.

God is good. He wants what is best for all of us. The immediate future may look bleak. But God in all his glory will carry us through the situation and bless us with character, virtue, and reward.

Yes we may be beaten, busted, and broken at this time. But it only allows us to place our trust in the hand of who will rise us up and restore us to a place for his glory. With Job, his story has become an inspiration for millions throughout history. For us, our story may likewise become a living testament for others on the grace of God.

Again, being beaten, busted, and broken isn’t bad unless we neglect to lean on Him. Then pity on us. I choose to trust Him who raises the dead, walks on water, and turns water into wine.

There is a purpose and meaning behind the BBB of life. As we learn from it, grow from it, and glorify God through it, in hindsight, we may have a better understanding of why we went through it. But for today, let’s just be pleasantly surprised on how He will intervene and save us from ourselves, for the sake of others, and for His glory.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married