Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone.
Your life in Christ’s Body has purposes, which you must keep in balance. These purposes are summarized in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus:
A. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
B. Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Main purposes in a nutshell:
Love God with all your heart – worship
Love your neighbour as you love yourself – ministry
Go make disciples – evangelism or e-vangelism
Baptize everyone – fellowship
Teach them the way – discipleship
We all tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel more passionate about and neglect the others. Keep your life balanced by:
(i) Joining a small group (“Where two or three are gathered…”)
(ii) Regularly evaluating your spiritual health
(iii) Recording your progress
(iv) Passing on what you learn
+ Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group.
We learn best in a sharing community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversion. We can give and receive feedback and discuss real-life examples (we trust close relationships). We can pray for, encourage and support each other as we begin to live out these purposes.
+ Give yourself regular spiritual check-ups.
God places high value on the habit of self-evaluation. (Questioning our motives, commitment, etc.) Regularly check the vital signs and health of your worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry and mission.
+ Write down your progress in a journal.
This journal shouldn’t be a diary of daily events (you may in addition keep one of those), but a RECORD OF THE LIFE LESSONS you don’t want to forget.
(If I think about it; Facebook, Twitter, etc is my current dairy; and this blog my spiritual journal – they overlap at times, but it’s all good…)
Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. Your life is a journey, and a journey deserves a journal. (It is only later in life that I started making notes and capturing the times in photo journals – I think ‘snapping’ the impasses are immensely helpful in jogging the moments and circumstances from the recesses of the mind)
Don’t just write down the pleasant things; record your doubts, fears and struggles with God – our greatest lessons come out of pain.
You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you to fulfill His purposes on earth.
+ Pass on what you know to others.
It is your responsibility to carry the message of our purpose on earth to others. You probably know hundreds of people who do not know the purpose of life.
Share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbours and those you work with. Passing it on is more than an obligation; it’s one of life’s greatest privileges – how different the world would be if everyone knew their purpose!
IT’S ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
The reason we pass on what we learn is for the glory of God and the growth of His Kingdom.
Not only does He want us to live out His purposes, He also wants us to help others do the same – bring them into His fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place in His service; and then send them out to reach others, too.
The rest of your life can be the best of your life – START LIVING ON PURPOSE TODAY!
No need to balance the tightrope alone; come take my hand…I love you ~ SB
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