SEARCHLIGHT
Are you living a well-balanced life?
SCRIPTURE
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together, spirit, soul, and body-and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He’ll do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 Message
SPOTLIGHT
Experiencing good health is more than avoiding sickness. What is needed is balanced living. This is key to a person’s whole well-being.
A person is more than just a body. For a person to be well and whole, he/she must develop physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. A well-balanced life can only be developed when all these areas are well connected. A well-balanced life is a well-rounded life.
Long before modern experts began speaking of holistic medicine, God spoke of it in His Word. Today’s Scripture focus identifies the importance of living a well-balanced life. God wants to make you that person…someone who is whole and complete in spirit, soul and body.
Today’s Scripture focus identifies that God recommends living a balanced life. He wants you to be holy and whole in 3 areas, spirit, soul, and body. This is the “total you”.
God has never compartmentalized people. He doesn’t say “I’m only interested in your spirit.” No! God wants you to be strong in what makes you a complete person, your spirit, soul and body. The development of all 3 are key to you living a well-balanced life.
God’s focus on living a well-balanced life begins with your spirit. Your spirit is so important because it is the part of you which can be in tune with God. Romans 8:16 states, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”. However, this is the part which is dead in sin and must be born again. Jesus Christ said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit”. [John 3:5] You need spiritual rebirth before God becomes real to you. Being born again is the first step to becoming a whole person.
Some people appear to not even have a spirit. They have no interest in God. Other people are not aware that they have a spirit. They believe that when they die it will be dying like a dog. But God wants you to be strong in spirit. He wants to bring new life to your spirit. [Romans 8:9-11; 2 Timothy 1:7] God created you to live life to its full here on earth, and to live eternally with Him. Will you invite God to make your spirit holy and whole?
God knows your soul is all important to becoming a complete person. This is the part of you which is in tune with yourself and other people. Your soul includes your mind [intellect], emotions [feelings], and will. This makes up your personality. From the soul you develop a self-identity along with sensitivity to people.
People describe other people this way: “She has lots of personality or he has real soul”. Such commendations mean that people are well developed in the areas of mind, emotions, and will. But there is far more. What about your character? Jesus said, “As a man thinks so is he.” Your soul affects your destiny. When Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount, He was giving a prescription for developing a well-balanced soul. It focused on becoming meek, humble, peaceable, and concerned etc. Be sure to read what Jesus said in Matthew 5.
God so wants to instruct you about developing a well-balanced soul. In Proverbs 4:23, He says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Invite God to do this.
God does not overlook your body which most people would consider to be the most important. This is the part of you which is in tune with the world around you. This is what people relate to. It is the physical you. God has blessed you with 5 senses – smell, sight, taste, hearing and touch. Your body is the house in which you live. It is the instrument through which you express yourself.
God wants you to love your body and care for it. Read Ephesians 5:29. In the Old Testament. God was so concerned about the bodies of his chosen people, that He told them what was good to eat and what was not. Medical research has affirmed God’s wisdom of 3,500 years ago.
God wants you to treat your body as a place where He can reside. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Peter 2:5 and Song of Solomon 4:1-4; 5:10-16. Your body is God’s concern. Is it yours, too?
Someday God will give you a new body. The fact is your body grows old, weak and will fade. Read God’s classic passage on aging in Ecclesiastes 12:1-5. However, Philippians 3:20,21 promises that someday you will have a body like Jesus Christ. Wow!
Will you choose to live a well-balanced life? God warns against living an unbalanced life. People tend to get lopsided. Some people develop their bodies but not their souls. Others develop their body and soul but not their spirit. [Matthew 16:26] What are you doing?
Balanced living is not easily learned. The Bible warns against lopsided development. 1 Timothy 4:8 states, “For physical training is of some value, but Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Please do not focus on your body and neglect your spirit and soul. God longs to bless you with living a balanced life. Avoid extreme living or lopsided living. Will you choose to allow God to keep you fit for life?
SOMETHING TO DO
God will make you a whole person. Ask Jesus Christ to put you together. Learn to live a well-balanced life. Take the following steps by remembering what the word “WHOLE” stands for:
W wake up all areas of your life-spirit, soul, body
H handle your most challenging, hardest area first
O organize your priorities carefully by putting God at the center of your life
L look to Jesus for a perfect pattern of well-balanced living
E enlist the power of the Holy Spirit
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I want to live a well-balanced life. My longing is to be whole and complete. Put me together. Right now, I give myself to You. I am going to seek first Your kingdom and righteousness. I am putting You first so that You will be able to develop me in my spirit, soul and body. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. AMEN