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1997-10-03 - Measure Monthly/Abandon Annually
The Balancing the Gauges Series - Part 4
Lamentations 3:40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the
Lord. (NRSV)
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in
the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in
you?-unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! (NRSV)
Galatians 6:4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than
their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. (NRSV)
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
thoughts. (NRSV)
Socrates once said "An unexamined life is not worth living." I say an unexamined
life is not biblical. An unexamined life is a life that is not being lived
to its fullest potential, to the potential God intends for our life to be.
It is a life not being lived out in abundance.
Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (NRSV)
What do I mean by measure monthly? At least once a month we should take time
to measure our progress we are making in becoming more like Christ. We should
measure our emotional balance, spiritual balance and our physical balance.
Sit down and ask yourself or even better sit down with an accountability partner
and ask the tough questions. For your emotional balance, ask, "how am I handling
the stresses in my life? How am I reacting to irritations. How am I handling
the relationships in my life? Are my relationships with others becoming deeper
and more meaningful or am I pushing people aside? Am I running so fast and
so hard that emotionally I am numb or dead to the feelings I have and others
have? Am I becoming more loving? More Christlike?"
For physical balance ask, "how are my eating habits." You know the computer
acronym, GIGO, "Garbage In, Garbage Out", it applies to our bodies. "Am I
getting regular exercise? Am I sleeping enough? Am I always worn down?"
For spiritual balance, I ask myself at least monthly, "Am I growing in Christ?
Is my love for the Bible increasing? Is my love for Christ increasing? Is
my love for people increasing? Is my heart growing bigger for the Cause of
Christ? Are my prayers more frequent and more heartfelt? Am I taking every
opportunity to mature in Christ? How was my church attendance, my Bible study
attendance, my small group attendance last month?"
Finally abandon annually. At least once a year, just set aside a day to reflect
back on your life asking the same questions as monthly. Instead of "New Years
Resolutions" make some "New Life Resolutions"
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come. (NIV)
I have heard people say, I love God, I love people, I know my Bible, I am
going to coast on to the end from here. To which I reply, "You know if you
are coasting, you have to be going downhill." You can't coast and grow. I
don't want to get to the end and stand before God a stressed out, burnt up,
kicked around, shriveled-up heart, Christ-follower and say.. "Well God, I
coasted on to heaven." No, I want to stand before our Holy God with a great
big grown heart, with a great big love for Christ and a great big love for
people and I so much want to hear him say, "Well done My good and faithful
servant, enter the Kingdom."
So, are you coasting or growing? I hope this series has caused you to stop
long enough to at least examine the "gauges on your dashboard." I pray that
something written in this series has triggered a change in your life. I pray
that God uses these words, to touch you in a way that you can step back,
look and then move forward! All followers of Christ are going to heaven, no
doubt about that. Why take the third -class seats, when you can go first-class?
It's a great ride.
Father, We thank you and praise you for giving us a life here on earth.
We want to bring You honor and glory. We want others to see our lives as
Christians, as balanced Christ-followers, just trying to do life right. Just
trying to live the abundant life that You so much desire for us to have.
Forgive us for allowing ourselves to get out of balance, forgive us for falling
short of Your plan for our lives. We ask this forgiveness in the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.
David
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