Follower of One : Missions For The Rest Of Us

This is an encore presentation as we take a summer break from recording. We hope you are well and rested! 

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Don't you love it when the superhero shows up. They put aside their costume and reveal who they really are. And their real self makes a difference. We all want a little of the superhero to show up. We want to put off our have-to in order to be who we were made to be. 

Jesus had this experience when he was 12. After 3 days, Mary and Joseph find him in the Temple. For now, let's agree they weren't neglecting their child. Times were different. They were distraught when they found him, but his response is what interests us today. Jesus reminds us who his Father is. And he also reminded them and us, that he had to be about his father's business. 

When we act out of our true identity, we are aligned with our Creator. Not so much our earthly father as our heavenly Father. He is the one who created us. He gave us our purpose, gifting, calling and strengths. They're baked in. We can shed our costume as we learn about our Father and we learn to be about our Father's business. 

The book, About My Father's Business: Taking Your Faith To Work by Regi Campbell is a wonderful book on how to practically be about our Heavenly Father's business at work. This book made a big difference in Mike's walk with God. You might be interested to check it out.

This is an encore presentation as we take a summer break from recording. We hope you are well and rested! 

Love makes all the difference. Do you often question your own motives? It's so easy to go through the motions without really caring for the people we serve. I get convicted by my own selfishness. I feel like my life is a constant struggle to consider others more important than myself (Philippians 2:3). 

Paul basically says that if we don't love people, our actions, our ability, our charity are nothing. They don't count and they don't matter. Bold talk. Especially coming right on the end of a conversation about spiritual gifts. What difference does this make? What challenge pops into your mind when you think about everything you do? Do you do your tasks because you love the people you serve, or do you do it so you can get it done; get your box checked; get on to the next thing?

We need practice. Why not join us on the next Marketplace Mission Trip. We start another one in a week or so. There's no cost, but you will be challenged to put your faith in action. Join us. Go to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com and sign up.

This is an encore presentation as we take a summer break from recording. We hope you are well and rested! 

Love makes all the difference. Do you often question your own motives? It's so easy to go through the motions without really caring for the people we serve. I get convicted by my own selfishness. I feel like my life is a constant struggle to consider others more important than myself (Philippians 2:3). 

Paul basically says that if we don't love people, our actions, our ability, our charity are nothing. They don't count and they don't matter. Bold talk. Especially coming right on the end of a conversation about spiritual gifts. What difference does this make? What challenge pops into your mind when you think about everything you do? Do you do your tasks because you love the people you serve, or do you do it so you can get it done; get your box checked; get on to the next thing?

We need practice. Why not join us on the next Marketplace Mission Trip. We start another one in a week or so. There's no cost, but you will be challenged to put your faith in action. Join us. Go to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com and sign up.

What is the earthly goal or outcome of our eternal life? The Apostle Paul challenges the Galatians in this letter and us today. He points out that we have new and eternal life in Christ simply because we trust him. He paid for our sins and our life comes from him. We were crucified with Jesus and we no longer live, our life comes from God (Galatians 2:20). Then he makes a compelling argument about how going back to following the Jewish law shouldn't be our next action. We are called to live according to our faith. We have new freedom and we should use that freedom to serve others (Galatians 5:13).

So if we get our life from the Spirit, we should follow him. Our actions are to be marked by doing what he says. Yesterday we talked about God speaking to us. Do you believe God flashes ideas on the billboard of your mind. He may tell you to purchase a gift for your spouse on the way home today. He may suggest that you can ask about a coworker's sick relative or favorite hobby. He may prompt you to make a donation or to slow down and talk to someone rather than just answering their question and then rushing off to your next thing. 

We've been given a life that will never end. Let's trust God with how we live it. We can use the life we've been given in a way that will matter forever. And we can blow it. What will you do today? Will you invest anything that God has given you in eternity? Every action we take matters. We have a limited number of moments in this life. Will you invest the moments you've been given, or will we consume them? We don't have to be consumers. We can walk according to the direction of the Holy Spirit or we can just bounce through life. What will your choice be?

Also, we're going to take a vacation. We all need a little rest. So for the next 3 weeks, we will feature some special episodes from the last 18 months of the podcast. Feel free to let us know what topics or passages you'd like to hear more about, too. 

What is the earthly goal or outcome of our eternal life? The Apostle Paul challenges the Galatians in this letter and us today. He points out that we have new and eternal life in Christ simply because we trust him. He paid for our sins and our life comes from him. We were crucified with Jesus and we no longer live, our life comes from God (Galatians 2:20). Then he makes a compelling argument about how going back to following the Jewish law shouldn't be our next action. We are called to live according to our faith. We have new freedom and we should use that freedom to serve others (Galatians 5:13).

So if we get our life from the Spirit, we should follow him. Our actions are to be marked by doing what he says. Yesterday we talked about God speaking to us. Do you believe God flashes ideas on the billboard of your mind. He may tell you to purchase a gift for your spouse on the way home today. He may suggest that you can ask about a coworker's sick relative or favorite hobby. He may prompt you to make a donation or to slow down and talk to someone rather than just answering their question and then rushing off to your next thing. 

We've been given a life that will never end. Let's trust God with how we live it. We can use the life we've been given in a way that will matter forever. And we can blow it. What will you do today? Will you invest anything that God has given you in eternity? Every action we take matters. We have a limited number of moments in this life. Will you invest the moments you've been given, or will we consume them? We don't have to be consumers. We can walk according to the direction of the Holy Spirit or we can just bounce through life. What will your choice be?

Also, we're going to take a vacation. We all need a little rest. So for the next 3 weeks, we will feature some special episodes from the last 18 months of the podcast. Feel free to let us know what topics or passages you'd like to hear more about, too. 

Do you believe God speaks to you? If he's God, and if he talks to you, do you do what he says? The great challenge in my life is that I constantly give myself a pass. God tells me to invest in others but I spend too much time watching TV or eating too much. I think about what I want and what I want to do. I get angry because others fail to meet my expectations or because things take longer than I wanted. There are so many ways we can get distracted and fail to ask God, then fail to hear his response, and even when we hear him, we fail to act.

When we walk or live according to the Spirit, we behave according to what God says. We listen to him and do what he says. And when we do, we will put our flesh into submission. We will discipline our bodies (1 Corinthians 9:27). When we substitute a good behavior for a negative one, we win. Here, Paul suggests today that we substitute obeying the Holy Spirit instead of listening to ourselves or anyone else. He contrasts walking according to our flesh, doing what we think is right, and walking according to the Spirit, which is listening to and obeying God. 

Which will you do today?

When we listen to the Spirit and obey him, we experience joy. Try it. Do something today just because you know God wants you to do it. Even if it doesn't work out the way you thought, you can enjoy the confidence of knowing that the outcomes are on God. The action is on us. I hope you enjoy your relationship with God today, and the surest way I know to do that is to obey him. So what are you waiting for?

Thanks for being a marketplace minister. Everything you do because you follow Jesus matters forever. If these podcasts are a blessing to you, please subscribe using your listener of choice and then please mention this podcast to one other friend. Thanks!

Do you believe God speaks to you? If he's God, and if he talks to you, do you do what he says? The great challenge in my life is that I constantly give myself a pass. God tells me to invest in others but I spend too much time watching TV or eating too much. I think about what I want and what I want to do. I get angry because others fail to meet my expectations or because things take longer than I wanted. There are so many ways we can get distracted and fail to ask God, then fail to hear his response, and even when we hear him, we fail to act.

When we walk or live according to the Spirit, we behave according to what God says. We listen to him and do what he says. And when we do, we will put our flesh into submission. We will discipline our bodies (1 Corinthians 9:27). When we substitute a good behavior for a negative one, we win. Here, Paul suggests today that we substitute obeying the Holy Spirit instead of listening to ourselves or anyone else. He contrasts walking according to our flesh, doing what we think is right, and walking according to the Spirit, which is listening to and obeying God. 

Which will you do today?

When we listen to the Spirit and obey him, we experience joy. Try it. Do something today just because you know God wants you to do it. Even if it doesn't work out the way you thought, you can enjoy the confidence of knowing that the outcomes are on God. The action is on us. I hope you enjoy your relationship with God today, and the surest way I know to do that is to obey him. So what are you waiting for?

Thanks for being a marketplace minister. Everything you do because you follow Jesus matters forever. If these podcasts are a blessing to you, please subscribe using your listener of choice and then please mention this podcast to one other friend. Thanks!

Do the rules matter? Notice in this passage that whether or not you obey the laws, Paul says something else is more important. The thing that matters is faith working through love. Some say faith alone. But faith that doesn't work, isn't faith. See James 2:17. Today wherever you are, as a stay at home parent, or a retired person, or as someone who works for a living, how can your faith show up? What can you do? 

We talk at Follower of One about 5 simple daily activities. #1 is Pray. We can pray to remind ourselves that we work for God. Let's punch in today, tell God we're available and do what he tells us to do. #2 is Appreciate Others. This is love. We work for the best in others. Ask God to give you the name of one person you can do something nice for. Listen for 2 things: the name of the person and the idea of what action you can take. Then, when you get an answer, and I know you will, act. Don't put it off. Don't wait until the time is right. Just act. Trust God. Bend your schedule. Inconvenience yourself. Get out on God's limb and watch him work. He will use you to make a difference in the life of another human.

Notice that you will receive a new feeling once you complete the idea given to you during that prayer. You will experience God's joy. This joy cannot be replaced. We do the cheap substitutes all the time, but the joy of doing what God told you to do is irreplaceable. When you experience it, take a moment and enjoy it. Then, do it again.

Want to build this habit into your life? Check out our Marketplace Mission Trip. This is a 2 week exercise to help us get in the habit of listening to God and doing what he says. We do one again in just a few weeks. Head over to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com to learn more and sign up.

Do the rules matter? Notice in this passage that whether or not you obey the laws, Paul says something else is more important. The thing that matters is faith working through love. Some say faith alone. But faith that doesn't work, isn't faith. See James 2:17. Today wherever you are, as a stay at home parent, or a retired person, or as someone who works for a living, how can your faith show up? What can you do? 

We talk at Follower of One about 5 simple daily activities. #1 is Pray. We can pray to remind ourselves that we work for God. Let's punch in today, tell God we're available and do what he tells us to do. #2 is Appreciate Others. This is love. We work for the best in others. Ask God to give you the name of one person you can do something nice for. Listen for 2 things: the name of the person and the idea of what action you can take. Then, when you get an answer, and I know you will, act. Don't put it off. Don't wait until the time is right. Just act. Trust God. Bend your schedule. Inconvenience yourself. Get out on God's limb and watch him work. He will use you to make a difference in the life of another human.

Notice that you will receive a new feeling once you complete the idea given to you during that prayer. You will experience God's joy. This joy cannot be replaced. We do the cheap substitutes all the time, but the joy of doing what God told you to do is irreplaceable. When you experience it, take a moment and enjoy it. Then, do it again.

Want to build this habit into your life? Check out our Marketplace Mission Trip. This is a 2 week exercise to help us get in the habit of listening to God and doing what he says. We do one again in just a few weeks. Head over to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com to learn more and sign up.

Do you define yourself, or were you defined by someone else? We have tremendous influence over what we become. We can choose many things, including how we measure our own lives. To some degree, we even influence how long we live. Yes, when it's our time, it's our time, but we can behave in ways that might make our time very soon.

Notice in this passage that we were God's idea. We're made in his image and in his likeness. Mike talked about control. Much of what he hears and reads about human potential, both from Christ-followers and those who don't follow Jesus is that we control our potential. There are things within our control, like how much we exercise and what we study. Mike believes we control aspects, but not end results.

In our current time, Mike hopes to learn about God more, and especially, God as the Son of Man, Jesus. Since he was created in the image and likeness of God, what about God can we learn so we can understand who we can be and what we can do? At work today, think about what's true of you because God decided you would exist. Do you appreciate those same things in the lives of those you work with? Do you appreciate how God gives you an understanding of his Bible and then you don't appreciate when someone else holds a slightly different view of the scripture? Could it be someone else may know things you don't?

If EVERY person you interact with every day is the spitting image of God, would you treat them differently? Would you be more patient, understanding, and caring? What can you do today because you remember that everyone you interact with bears the image of God? How will that change the way you interact?

Also, don't forget, that in a few weeks, we're doing another Marketplace Mission Trip. Would you like to intentionally integrate more of your faith into more of your life? Join us for a 2-week exercise designed to help you live a faith-integrated life. Head over to MarketplaceMissionTrip.com and sign up.