[04ctd]

Living a Fully Integrated, Balanced Life

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. (Ezra 7:10)

Have you noticed lately what an amazing sense of humor our God has? Todays example: Doesnt it seem that - just as you are ready to get behind your pulpit and expound on some incredibly important truth  truth upon which you believe you have divine insight  He will take you aside, stand you in front of a full-length mirror and, with a twinkle in His eye, say, What were you about to say,? And there you stand  and you can see the truth alright, but the model of that truth that you see in the mirror certainly doesnt match that divine insight that seemed so important a moment ago.

God has just reminded me why He confirmed Ezra 7:10 as the second of my life verses. Do you remember Ezra 7:10? ÔÇ£For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.ÔÇØ Notice the four key issues here:

ÔÇó Set your heart (I used to pass right over this one, until my friend clarified that the rest only makes sense if this happened first) ÔÇô you and I have to be committed to this

ÔÇó Study ÔÇô If I donÔÇÖt KNOW what God says, how can I live a life that honors Him?

ÔÇó Practice ÔÇô If I donÔÇÖt DO what I KNOW God says to do, why should anyone respond to what I say?

ÔÇó Teach ÔÇô Once I KNOW ÔÇô not just superficially, but intimately KNOW - what God says, and IÔÇÖve experienced the joy of PRACTICING / DOING what I KNOW, then I have the privilege of sharing that with others.

God clearly intends that we include Him in every part of life  that there are no compartments where He is not welcome. That may be more difficult in the DOING, but that is not because we dont KNOW what to do.