DAY FIVE: INTENTIONAL PROFESSIONAL/EXPERIENTIAL GROWTH

Review:

• True Bible study is seeking the heart of God for yourself within the pages
  of the Bible, going first to the Bible itself, reading and listening and taking
  in what the Holy Spirit has to say to you as an individual rather than to the
  masses.
• Only by studying the Bible on your own will you be able to search out God’s
  individualized plan for your life completely.
• If you do not have a working knowledge of the truth and are not working
  toward attaining that knowledge, then you limit your own ability to connect
  others with God’s truth.
• Knowing your Bible and knowing how to find the answers to difficult
  questions in the Bible even when no one is available to help you will help you
  to defend yourself against the enemy.
• God can create in you the desire to study His Word.
• Scripture memory is important to the life of a believer because we don’t
  always have our Bibles handy, and the enemy doesn’t take a break.
• As ambassadors for Jesus Christ, we are to spread the message of salvation
  to the world so that the lost can be reconciled to God.
• As you carry out the assignments that God gives you, you must maintain a
  relational balance, making sure that the people in your life hold the places of
  importance that they deserve.

Colossians 3:17 and 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

As we have already discussed, each of us has been given a specific
assignment, an assignment that evolves as God directs. Wherever we find
ourselves within that assignment, we must make sure we are good stewards of what
we have been given, making the most of every opportunity that comes our way to
improve the skills that enable us to carry out our individual assignments. When
we take the opportunity to grow professionally and/or experientially, we equip
ourselves to become even more effective ambassadors where we have been placed.
When we do our best to carry out our assignment with excellence, we bring glory
to God, who is excellent in everything He does. Psalm 18:30-36

As you continue to grow and mature spiritually, be sure not to overlook
opportunities to grow professionally or experientially. Become a life-long
learner who sees opportunities to grow as opportunities to enhance the gifts you
are able to lay at your Savior’s feet. Some people called to ministry serve
full time in a church or Christian ministry. Most people who are called to
ministry serve as a volunteer in a ministry or in a bi-vocational role (you have
more than one job or task, one with a church or ministry and another in a
secular work environment). It does not matter if you are paid, volunteer or
part-time in your vocation, your calling is full time. So, whatever the vocation
God has placed you into, make sure you are working with all your might to serve
God and serve people. Colossians
1:24-2:3

Take a few moments and write your thoughts, concerns, and questions in your
journal. Allow the following thought suggestions to guide you.

As you consider your assignment, what professional/educational/experiential
opportunities are available to you that might help you to grow and learn more
about your assignment?

Describe opportunities that have helped you in the past.

What is God teaching you?