God as Your Reference Point: Living Every Area of Life to Please Him

Summary

Everyday reference points, like speed limits and parental expectations, illustrate how God should guide every aspect of life. True faith means more than weekly church attendance. It requires loving, fearing, and pleasing God continually. Scripture affirms God’s authority over forgiveness, purpose, judgment, and creation. Believers are challenged to evaluate whether their daily words, attitudes, and actions show that God, not convenience or culture, is their ultimate reference point.

The Speedometer as a Reference Point

I admit I drive faster than the posted speed limits. A friend says one can get away with traveling at the posted speed limit plus nine miles per hour. He calls it sign plus nine.

I do not push it that much. I go beyond a 25-mph limit by no more than five mph and seven mph for higher speed limits.

My eyes dart repeatedly from the road to the speedometer, so my speed remains within those limits. The speedometer is my reference point. I have no speeding tickets in 60 years of driving.

That said, I will probably get one this afternoon! By the way, God’s grace has covered me during many lapses of attention over the years.

Learning Reference Points in Childhood

My father’s expectations were a reference point during my childhood. For example, he did not allow singing at the dinner table. I had to wash my hands before I sat at the table, eat at least a little of everything prepared for the meal, and ask to be excused before leaving.

He assumed I would graduate from college and work summers to pay for it. He did not tolerate lying or driving as if I were a competitor in the Indianapolis 500.

His expectations defined my reference point during my growing-up years. That prepared me to make my heavenly Father’s expectations the same.

Making God the Ultimate Reference Point

You make God your reference point when you fear, love, worship, and live to please Him. That is what God expects from us. He is superlatively worthy! We are talking about a far deeper commitment than an hour-a-week visit to sit in a church pew.

The Greatest Commandments

The greatest commandment is to love Him with all your being; the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

God’s Absolute Authority

He alone can forgive your sins (Matthew 9:6). He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

All things are possible with Him (Mark 10:27). He will judge you (John 5:27).

He is the author of your life (Acts 3:15). He alone can appoint you to eternal life (Acts 13:48). He assigns you a task and a place in life (1 Corinthians 3:5, 7:17).

All things come from Him through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6). He can make all grace abound to you (2 Corinthians 9:8). All things are created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

A Personal Heart Check

Would your best friend agree that God is your reference point? How do your words, attitudes, and actions demonstrate that He is? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.   #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 7,541 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 17,361 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.

Photo: Image Creator (microsoft.com)