Michael Joshua's Blog, page 3
July 30, 2019
Jesus and self – The key to personal transformation
Attaining true leadership is extremely difficult and there’s a central thing that people need to work on to become one – themselves. They can lead to a more differentiated and effective place by working on themselves and resolving their emotional and personal issues.
When it comes to understanding Jesus and the differentiation of self, one needs to know about the key to leadership for Jesus. He has a nearly unbelievable mission: to change the world. He’s not just performing actions which heal physical ailments, he’s saving the souls, and doing the things which are reserved for God. He remained fully committed and obedient to God completely even to the point of death.
He did this not only as the Son of God, but also as a man surrounded by the same temptations and fears as common people have, yet he didn’t let his anxieties trump his convictions. In the context of Jesus and self-differentiation, one needs to understand the self-emptying of Jesus. Jesus emptied himself by becoming something that he wasn’t previously. For him, it was to humble himself. So, self-emptying can be understood as a self-adding.
To understand the relationship between Jesus and self-awareness, one needs to understand what he shows – the world’s anxiety doesn’t have to affect humans. He himself is calm during the storm and that’s the real miracle.
Self in the Bible is described as the fleshly life of nature, thoroughly corrupt before God (Gal. 5:19-21). In order to enter into a growing personal knowledge of Him, one must come to know oneself first.
Call to action:
According to you, why self-differentiation is important to any person? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some thought-provoking poems, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Rashid, Johny. “Jesus: the self-differentiated leader.” more than self-expression, May 12, 2014. https://www.circleofhope.net/jonnyrashid/jesus-the-self-differentiated-leader/
THE PEACE PASTOR. “Jesus and the Differentiation of Self.” Chron, June 23, 2013. https://blog.chron.com/thepeacepastor/2013/06/jesus-and-the-differentiation-of-self/
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July 23, 2019
The historical dispute between God and Jesus
Different people answer the question is Jesus God. According to some scholars, Jesus is a human who walked on the earth around 2,000 years ago and did remarkable wonders. Some others say that he is God. Here are some verses which can throw some light on the argument.
It’s important to note that Jesus claimed to be God. In verse 36, it’s made clear that Jesus is the son of God. He didn’t say He was like the Father. He mentioned that they were ‘one’.
Jesus existed before time started, according to John 1:1-3. Jesus was with God from the beginning and he was God. The Bible solidifies the inseparable nature of God and Jesus. During his life on this earth, Jesus established His nature as 100% God via various pieces of evidence. He didn’t only claim to be God, but he claimed to have God’s power also. He said he holds the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-7), to raise people from the dead (John 5:25-29), and to judge the nations (Matthew 25:31-46) – things can be done by God only.
Sometimes, people can be seen asking others ‘can you prove Jesus is God’. One needs to understand that Jesus’ identity isn’t solely based on what He says, but it’s based on what He does. And there’re lots of evidence that prove God and Jesus is the same. These evidence include recorded miracles in which he reversed the laws of nature as well as fulfilled prophecy. He also lived a pure life (Hebrews 4:15), which has not done by anyone else.
Call to action:
What are your thoughts on Jesus’ claim to be God? Let me know in the comments section below. To keep the conversation flowing, you can also get in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To read some great poets that reflect the reality of life, remember to check out my books.
References:
GOING FARTHER. “Is Jesus God?” Accessed May 26, 2019. https://goingfarther.net/common-questions/is-jesus-god/
All About Jesus Christ. “Is Jesus God?” Accessed May 26, 2019. https://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/is-jesus-god-c.htm
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July 16, 2019
How to choose between God and self
In this fast-paced life, people often fail to take some time out to think about their life’s ultimate goal. However, to everyone, the search for truth comes eventually, the age may vary though. To identify the true value of life, one needs to understand how to choose between God and self. A person’s value system is heavily by the viewpoint he or she holds.
For those who get overwhelmed by the thought of God or self, here’re some thoughts to consider.
The self-life centers everything on ‘myself’, causing one’s value system to be self-centered and distorted. When one’s value gets influenced by a self-centered viewpoint, he/she often goes through a cycle of doubting the value that person holds inside of him/her. This usually leads to low self-esteem as the person underestimates himself/herself. He or she may feel a constant sense of failure, self-judgment, or find himself/herself chasing for value in some conditional settings. This can leave the person feeling unhappy and increases his/her own insecurity.
In the context of the self-life vs. the God-life, one can remember what the great ones of the old times have explained – humans are divine souls on a delightful journey. Everyone came from God and is progressing toward oneness with God. When it comes to choosing between God and self, as one listens to or reads God’s Word and spend time in prayer, his/her spirit becomes stronger eventually. If one tries to find the Self using his/her mind, he or she will continue to strive. But if one sensitizes himself/herself, he/she will eventually become aware of the self-existent God.
Call to action:
Can you provide an example where you connected with your own self? Let me know in the comments section below. To take the conversation further, you can also reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. To have some valuable reads on self-discovery, be sure to check out my books.
References:
Meyer, Joyce. “Are You Living the God-Life or the Self-Life?” THE CHRISTIAN POST, November 17, 2012. https://www.christianpost.com/news/are-you-living-the-god-life-or-the-self-life.html
Satguru Subramuniyaswami Sivaya. “The Self God: Life’s Ultimate Goal.” HINDUISM TODAY, Accessed May 26, 2019. https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=5007
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