Balance and Integration of Scripture

This is the second of two separate words or principles of guidance the Lord gave me early in my Christian walk, the other one presented in my first article, Form vs. Essence.   The two principles frequently complement each other in application and understanding.
Every subject or issue in Scripture needs to be studied and/or taught in its entirety and wholeness. Otherwise there is imbalance and error or faulty results from over-simplification.
Over-Simplification
Let me introduce this corollary principle with the following metaphor:   You want to bake a cake, and need a recipe.  A cake recipe will list all the ingredients, give the amounts of each, in what order, mixing instructions, pan size, even how ro treat the pan itself before pouring in the mix. Baking directions will include oven temperature, pre-heat and baking times. Even handling and cooling instructions.
Ah, but what happens if you leave out an ingredient or two, or don’t follow the other directions and in the right order? The recipe will not work if anything is left out!  You reap a cake failure, no matter how much heart, time and energy you put into the effort.
Can you see from this simple metaphor how crucially important it is to obtain and follow the whole of God’s Word and Counsel on any subject.  And that If we lift a Word or two out of context, and think we have all we need, try to apply them, and then do not understand why God’s Word does not work for us, we may easily believe we have no or insufficient faith, are not worthy or some other disheartening reason.  Yet it is simply ignorance of the integrated wholeness of God’s Word.  We must learn and know ALL the relevant Word of God on a subject of our concern or need, but it must be functionally integrated (mixed and absorbed ) within us, so that we can operate and live its Truth and reality.
Whether how to live out God’s principles of finances and God’s abundant material supply, or fully understand and effectively operate in the spiritual law and force of faith for healing. All the relevant ingredients, the whole balanced Counsel and Word of God in an area, needs to be received and integrated in our spirit-man.
Getting a hold on the two universally applicable guiding principles God gave me, Form vs. Essence, and Balance and Integration, with its warning corollary of Over-simplification, has enabled the Holy Spirit to more easily guide me into His Truth, and grow spiritually. I pray they will help you too.
Future articles will focus on some of the examples and applications of each or both principles. Also how they frequently work together, and inform or enlarge our spiritual understanding and walk with the Lord.
Carole Robinson
A God Listener
12/12/2015