Two summers ago, siblings Nik and Lijana Wallenda of the famous Flying Wallendas successfully walked across a 1,300-foot wire stretched between two towers at Times Square in New York City. They started at opposite ends of the tightrope and crossed in the middle. It was an amazing feat of balance 25 stories high.
Balance is critical for high-wire acts, as well as down-to-earth people like you and me.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:9).
As Christians, you and I should seek to strike a God-honoring balance of digging, marveling, and overflowing.
Digging
We open the Bible with a heart to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us. Our goal is not to dutifully file away a set of sterile facts, but to grow in our adoration of our awe-inspiring God. We earnestly seek to know this Holy God who has surprisingly turned His affection toward us.
“What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective, something which catches our imagination and lays hold of our allegiance, and this the Christian has in a way that no other person has. For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?” J.I. Packer, Knowing God (1926-2020)
Marveling
As our knowledge of the things of God increases, we grow in our adoration of this Lovely One.
It's like seeing a majestic mountain from a distance; it’s incredible. We move closer, and the mountain becomes even more breathtaking. So it is when we draw nearer to God. Our hearts are stirred even more. We marvel at the unparalleled magnificence of God.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3).
Discovering who God is and marveling at all we observe are glorious aspects of the faith journey. They are foundational to our walk, and they compel us to love God and to live in obedience to His commands.
Overflowing
As we spend time with God, our hearts are renewed, and by God’s grace, we are filled to the point of overflowing.
What a wonder that God uses us to spill over into the lives He places in our path. It’s a humbling thought, isn’t it?
It should be noted that all of this takes place on a spiritual battlefield. You and I understand that all too well. The forces of evil doggedly resist our plans to seek God and to influence others. Even our own sinful hearts prove to be enemies to our pursuit of a Godward life.
Thankfully, we have a Helper sent from our Father who is willing and able to assist us as we move forward in this Christian walk.
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:25-26).
As the Wallenda siblings crept across the tightrope, they did so securely tethered to a safety harness. You and I find our security in looking to the assistance of the Holy Spirit. He is our trustworthy Helper.
When we neglect spending time in His Word, the Holy Spirit lets us know that we’re off track. When our study of the Bible becomes an effort to simply collect information, there’s a nudge from the Holy Spirit that we are straying. When we are so caught up in investing in others (or ourselves) that we avoid seeking God, the Holy Spirit reminds us that things are out of balance.
You will agree that it is a tremendous blessing to explore the riches of the Bible, to grow in our adoration of God, and then to turn and pour ourselves into the lives of others. Let’s determine, with God’s aid, to keep that proper balance of the different aspects of the Christian walk.
By Rick Robertson. This article was originally posted on The Stand.
(Download the American Family Radio App to listen to Rick on AFR’s Music Network. He is heard weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Central.)
