Craig Smith • Charting the Course • November 3, 2024
If God is not the
of your
, then He will not be the
of your
…
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? (Amos 3:3)
What’s the point of my relationships?
• To
God’s
– “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1-2)
• To
God’s
– “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:11-12, 16b)
• To
God
– “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Three questions for charting a wise relational course with the Lord…
• Do I have the right
? – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal. 6:7-10)
• Am I following the right
? – “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:1-4)
💣 The danger of relationships that look more
than
– “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
• Am I engaging in the right
? – “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (1 Pet. 2:12)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (Eccl. 9:10)
