POINT TO PONDER: Blessed are the balanced.
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
Blessed are the balanced--- for they shall outlast everyone. 
       "Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those 
   who do not know the meaning of life, but as those who do." 
   (Eph 5:15 Philipps Translation)

       "Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder
   our lives under God." (Lamentations 3:40 The Message)
Our lives can be described by many Olympic events, such as the marathon (Dedication is a life-long process...), or the pentathlon (keeping these five purposes in balance). Living with purpose takes balance and commitment. It has been great to study the five purposes in these 40 days, but if you are serious about staying on track, you will need to develop these habits. You can keep the five purposes in balance and on track with a few simple activities:
  1. Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group.
    2. Small groups are the core of CBF ministry because we learn best in community. The best way to internalize principle is to discuss them with others and to pray for each other and learn real-life examples in action in a small group setting. Ask "So what?" and "Now what?" questions, otherwise, we will drift in a sea of good intentions. Maybe your small group will go after these chapters again, maybe at a slower pace. There are also other excellent materials that focus on these concepts or needs. I also encourage you to develop personal Bible study habits. We've read over 1000 verses in 40 days, and one of my prayers is that we'd develop good habit of getting alone to know God better. He wrote you a love letter, and their is no short cut to knowing Him in this marathon than getting to know Him through His word.
  2. Give yourself a regular spiritual check-up.
    3. To maintain your physical health, you need regular check-ups with a doctor who can assess your vital signs -- blood pressure, temperature, weight, and so on. For your spiritual health, you need to regularly check the five vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission. Paul urged, "Let your enthusiastic ide at the start be equaled by your realistic action now." (2 Cor 8:11 LB) Rick Warren has developed a great self assessment tool, which is among many great FREE resources at http://www.purposedrivenlife.com. For your convenience, I have the file in our resources section at http://www.cbfchurch.org/go/40days/pdlresources.html. Look for Purpose Health Assessment. Two caveats, it is in PDF format, so you'll need a free pdf reader (link provided on website), and you'll probably only need the first 2 pages of the assessment. The rest of the assessment is for small groups and churches as well.
  3. Write down your progress in a journal.
    4. As Melissa attested to, writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. The best way to reinforce your progress in fulfilling God's purposes for your life is to keep a spiritual journal. Aren't you glad Moses kept a journal of the spiritual journey that the Lord led the Children of Isreal? Your journal may not be as widely read as the first five books of the Bible, but it is your journey and it is still important. Don't just write down the pleasant things. As David did, record your doubts, fears, and struggles with God. In the middle of a painful experience, the psalmist wrote, "Write down for the coming generation what the LORD has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." (Ps 102:18
  4. Pass on what you know to others.
    5. If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned. Rick Warren passed on what others taught him in the book, and now it's our turn. Maybe buy the book for a friend, and study it together. What a privilege it will be to share these truths with your children, your friends, your neighbors, and those you work with.

IT'S ALL FOR GOD'S GLORY. The reason we pass on what we learn is for the glory of God, and the growth of His kingdom. Not only does God want us to live out His purposes (more like Christ), but He also wants us to help others to do the same (more to Christ). That is what purpose-driven living is all about. Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life, and you can start living on purpose today.
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, now that I know about the five purposes for my life, I desperately need You to help me balance them. I desire to love You and others well, to take the gospel where it is needed, fellowship with other believers, and grow in my understanding of You and Your word. Amen
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    Who is asking you the "hard questions" and helping to keep you "on purpose"? How balanced are you today? Which of the four activities mentioned today can you use to stay on track?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every 
	opportunity.”   Colossians 4:5 (NIV)
CBF Home How can we help you in this journey? Please let us know
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