The Discovery
DAY FOUR
DAY FOUR: MAINTAINING RELATIONAL BALANCE
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 God gives you, you must maintain a
relational balance, making sure the people in your life hold the places of
importance they deserve, no more, no less. This “hierarchy” of relationship
is laid out for us in the Bible.
God must remain number one in your life. He will accept no less.
It’s important to remember that your assignment is not a substitute for your
relationship with God.
If God chooses that you marry, your spouse must remain second in your life.
Genesis 2:22-24 Your husband or wife
will be an incredible gift from God, but they are not actually God. God is the
one who meets all our needs, not our spouse. No person can ever love you, meet
your needs, understand you and forgive you like God can. When you expect your
spouse to meet all your needs, you are expecting them to be God.
If God chooses that you have children, they must come third in your life.
Your ministry to others is nothing, if you do not minister to those whom God has
given into your personal, daily charge, your family (1 Timothy 3:1-12). Your children may
have many friends but, they will only have one set of parents.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Ephesians 5:21-6:4
Other relationships must come after your relationship with God and your
immediate family.
Take a few moments and write your thoughts, concerns, and questions in your
journal. Allow the following thought suggestions to guide you.
Are the relationships in your life what God wants them to be? Explain.
Are your priorities in order? How can you ensure that they remain in tact in
the days/years to come?
What do you think the benefit of keeping your priorities straight while
carrying out your assignment might be?
What is God teaching you?