Life Principle 1
Our intimacy with God - His highest priority for our lives - determines the impact of our lives (Gen 1:26)
Our intimacy with God - His highest priority for our lives - determines the impact of our lives (Gen 1:26)
Life’s Questions
At the beginning of any journey, you must set out in the right direction to reach your destination. That’s why this study of Life Principles starts with God’s wonderful purpose for bringing you into the world. To find the life that’s worth living, you must understand that you’re a special, beloved person and that God has a specific, wonderful plan for you that will give you all the love, fulfillment, significance, and power that you’re looking for (see Rom. 12:2).
Have you wondered what motivated God to design the universe or why He created you? It was love—pure and simple. Even before the beginning of the world, God loved you and wanted to have a close, personal relationship with you that would bring great joy, fulfillment, and power to your life (see Eph. 1:4). Therefore, Life Principle 1 is: Our intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.
What the Bible Says
Read Genesis 1. What did God create before He formed the first man (Gen 1:1-25)?
Why do you think God created all of these things before He made people?
Why do you think it was important to God to ensure that everything was good (Gen 1:4,10,12,18,21,25) before He created mankind (see James 1:17–18)?
*** The word good in the Old Testament also means well-pleasing, appealing, proper, pleasant to the senses, useful, profitable, or a general state of wellbeing and happiness. Everything good that comes to you is from God (see James 1:17).
When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gen 1:26), what do you think He meant? Why would He want to create someone in His image?
What jobs did God give mankind to do (Gen 1:26–28)?
How do our responsibilities relate to the fact that we bear His image?
*** The word image in the Old Testament also means a likeness, model, semblance, or shadow. This is what you have in common with God and why you can know Him more deeply.
What It Means
Do you wonder what God’s will is for your life? He created you in His image for one reason: to have a deep, intimate relationship with you. God created the world with everything that you would ever need so that you could know and love Him. That means that neither ability, beauty, intelligence, money, or anything else will ever define your life as successful in God’s eyes. It all comes down to how strong your relationship is with Him.
Life Examples
Read Genesis 3. What do you suppose life was like in the garden of Eden before Adam sinned?
Why did Adam disobey God (Gen 3:5-6)?
In Genesis 3:10, Adam said, “I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Is there anything that you hide from God? Why are you afraid or ashamed to show that area of your life to God?
*** When Adam and Eve covered themselves, they did so with fig leaves, which produced sap that would have greatly irritated their skin and made them even more uncomfortable and miserable.
What was the punishment for Adam’s sin (Gen 3:15-19)?
Did their lives become more or less effective after they disobeyed God?
Read John 17:1–5. Define eternal life (John 17:3).
Read 1 Corinthians 15:22. How does this verse contrast a life of separation from God with a life of intimacy with God?
Living the Principle
You were created for intimacy with God, and the difference that your relationship with God makes in your life cannot be overstated. His highest priority for you is to be involved with Him in prayer, the study of His Word, and worship and praise. Do you want to live a life that is fulfilling and significant? Do you want to make a difference in the world? Then surrender yourself completely to Jesus Christ and ask Him to open your heart to His infinite love and mercy. It’s only through your fellowship and communion with God that you can truly affect other people’s lives in a way that lasts eternally. Your genuine intimacy with God will become evident in every area of your life, and that will positively affect the influence that you have with every person you encounter.
How will you live out Life Principle 1 this week? Discuss ways that you can pursue a deeper relationship with God. Then spend time in prayer asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
At the beginning of any journey, you must set out in the right direction to reach your destination. That’s why this study of Life Principles starts with God’s wonderful purpose for bringing you into the world. To find the life that’s worth living, you must understand that you’re a special, beloved person and that God has a specific, wonderful plan for you that will give you all the love, fulfillment, significance, and power that you’re looking for (see Rom. 12:2).
Have you wondered what motivated God to design the universe or why He created you? It was love—pure and simple. Even before the beginning of the world, God loved you and wanted to have a close, personal relationship with you that would bring great joy, fulfillment, and power to your life (see Eph. 1:4). Therefore, Life Principle 1 is: Our intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.
What the Bible Says
Read Genesis 1. What did God create before He formed the first man (Gen 1:1-25)?
Why do you think God created all of these things before He made people?
Why do you think it was important to God to ensure that everything was good (Gen 1:4,10,12,18,21,25) before He created mankind (see James 1:17–18)?
*** The word good in the Old Testament also means well-pleasing, appealing, proper, pleasant to the senses, useful, profitable, or a general state of wellbeing and happiness. Everything good that comes to you is from God (see James 1:17).
When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gen 1:26), what do you think He meant? Why would He want to create someone in His image?
What jobs did God give mankind to do (Gen 1:26–28)?
How do our responsibilities relate to the fact that we bear His image?
*** The word image in the Old Testament also means a likeness, model, semblance, or shadow. This is what you have in common with God and why you can know Him more deeply.
What It Means
Do you wonder what God’s will is for your life? He created you in His image for one reason: to have a deep, intimate relationship with you. God created the world with everything that you would ever need so that you could know and love Him. That means that neither ability, beauty, intelligence, money, or anything else will ever define your life as successful in God’s eyes. It all comes down to how strong your relationship is with Him.
Life Examples
Read Genesis 3. What do you suppose life was like in the garden of Eden before Adam sinned?
Why did Adam disobey God (Gen 3:5-6)?
In Genesis 3:10, Adam said, “I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Is there anything that you hide from God? Why are you afraid or ashamed to show that area of your life to God?
*** When Adam and Eve covered themselves, they did so with fig leaves, which produced sap that would have greatly irritated their skin and made them even more uncomfortable and miserable.
What was the punishment for Adam’s sin (Gen 3:15-19)?
Did their lives become more or less effective after they disobeyed God?
Read John 17:1–5. Define eternal life (John 17:3).
Read 1 Corinthians 15:22. How does this verse contrast a life of separation from God with a life of intimacy with God?
Living the Principle
You were created for intimacy with God, and the difference that your relationship with God makes in your life cannot be overstated. His highest priority for you is to be involved with Him in prayer, the study of His Word, and worship and praise. Do you want to live a life that is fulfilling and significant? Do you want to make a difference in the world? Then surrender yourself completely to Jesus Christ and ask Him to open your heart to His infinite love and mercy. It’s only through your fellowship and communion with God that you can truly affect other people’s lives in a way that lasts eternally. Your genuine intimacy with God will become evident in every area of your life, and that will positively affect the influence that you have with every person you encounter.
How will you live out Life Principle 1 this week? Discuss ways that you can pursue a deeper relationship with God. Then spend time in prayer asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember