09/01/2026
WORD for your Tuesday.
Day 40 Challenge
Rick Warren’s Book
“The Purpose Driven Life”
“Balancing Your Life”
Ephesians 5:15
“Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do.” Living Bible.
2 Peter 3:17. NLT
“You already know these things, dear friends. So, be on guard; then you will not be carried away.”
The question is not:
How much of the Holy Spirit do I have?
The question is:
How much of me does the Holy Spirit have?
Blessed are those who are balanced & do not live in the world of drama. Those who are balanced will outlive everyone
Life is a marathon, which is a process, which is life.
There are five purposes for our lives that we must keep in balance.
They were practiced by the first Christians in Acts 2, explained by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 & modeled by Jesus in John 17–
BUT—they are summarized in the Great Commandment in
Matthew 22:37 & the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20.
These two purposes sum up God’s 5 purposes for our lives.
#1: “Love God with all your heart.”
YOU were planned for God’s pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through “worship.”
#2: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” You were shaped for serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through “ministry.”
#3: “Go and make disciples.”
YOU were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God’s message through “evangelism.”
#4: “…baptize them into…”
YOU were formed for God’s family, so your purpose is to identify with His church through “fellowship.”
#5: “…teach them to do all things…”
YOU were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through “discipleship.”
A great commitment to the Great Commandment & the Great Commission will make YOU a great Christian.
Keeping these 5 purposes in balance in our lives is not easy.
Most of us will overemphasize the purposes we are most passionate about & neglect the others. Churches will fall into the same pattern.
We must strive for that balance & stay on track. We do that by fellowshipping with others in small groups for accountability. That small group or team will help us to regularly evaluate our spiritual health. That is best accomplished by keeping a daily journal & passing along to others what we have learned.
Here are four important activities that help us to live a purpose driven life. If YOU are serious about living a purpose driven life, YOU should develop these habits.
1: Talk It Through with an Accountability Partner or Your Small Group.
The best way to develop new habits is to talk them out with others.
Proverbs 27:17. NLT.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
Our minds are sharpened & our convictions are deepened through conversation. We are meant to grow together—not separately.
We are better together.
Every single one of us needs to have a daily personal Bible Study. If YOU need help with this, let me know & I will help YOU get started. The Bible can be studied by paragraphs, chapters & even through entire chapters.
2: Give Yourself a Regular Spiritual Checkup.
We must do this regularly. At least 5 times in Scripture, we are told to test & examine our own spiritual health.
2 Corinthians 5:11. The Message.
“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in your faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups …Test it out. If you fail the test , do something about it.”
ASK for help. DO NOT think YOU can fix it on your own. YOU can’t!
BUT—Jesus can! Jesus can through your accountability partner or your small group.
3: Write Down Your Progress in a Journal.
The best way to keep up with God’s purposes in your life is to write them down. This is not a diary of daily events—this is record of your life lessons YOU don’t want to forget.
Hebrews 2:1. The Message.
“It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on on what we’ve heard so we don’t drift off.”
We remember what we write down.
Numbers 33:2. NLT
“ At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.”
Moses obeyed God’s command to record Israel’s spiritual journey.
Our lives are a journey, a process & it is important to write the experiences of your journey in a journal.
Don’t just write down the good things—Just as David did—
Write down your doubts & fears & struggles with God. Our greatest lessons come out of pain.
Psalm 56:8. CSB
“You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle.”
God has a list. David was confident that God knew all about the emotional turmoil he was experiencing & that his tears would not escape God’s notice.
Our problems should cause each of us to focus on God. They should draw us closer to others in fellowship & build Christlike character. They will open the door for a ministry & give YOU a testimony.
I see this all the time in people despite great pain & struggles—they remain faithful, as hard as it can get—AND they are rewarded by God’s promises. He is faithful!
4: Pass Along What YOU Know & have Learned to Others.
Proverbs 11:25. The Message.
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”
By now, YOU should understand the purpose for your life. It is now YOUR responsibility to carry the message, the Good News, to others. God is calling YOU to be His messenger.
Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:2: CSB
“And what you have learned from me, in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men (and women—my emphasis) who will be able to teach others also.”
It is our duty to pass these life changing purposes to others. The more we learn, the more God expects us to use that knowledge to help others.
James 4:17.
“Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.”
Knowledge increases our responsibility.
1 Timothy 4:6.
“If you teach these things to other followers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.”
All of this is for God’s glory.
Jesus told His Father He was preparing His disciples to live for God’s purposes. Today, God calls each of us to the same work.
God wants us to introduce people to Christ, to bring them into His fellowship, to help them grow to maturity & discover their place of service & THEN—send them out to reach others too.
This is what purpose driven life is about . Regardless of your age, the rest of your life can be the best of your life & TODAY—you can start living your life on purpose!
The Point:
Blessed are those who are balanced.
Be blessed & balanced & have a grace filled day.
Pastor Mike.