Purpose and Focus

Titus 2

Have you ever wondered what you were supposed to be doing in this life? Have you wondered if you made the right career choices or relationship choices? Sadly, often once a path is chosen it's hard to go another way, kind of a 'road not taken' scenario. As I was reading in Titus this morning, the verses seemed to jump out at me saying this is your purpose, this is what should be your focus.

For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Well there it is! God's grace came in the person of Jesus Christ to bring salvation to all, all who would believe. This salvation as well as Jesus Christ has taught us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. What a big order! We are not just to abstain from them part of the time or have them in a watered down form in our lives, no, we are to DENY them! 

As soon as we get rid of the negative, we are to put in the positive. You can't leave an empty space. The negative will flow right back in! So into the newly emptied space, we are to add in living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Not later in heaven, but right now where everything is flawed and so very difficult. Being sober in focus really has nothing to do with drinking [although it could], but I think it speaks much more to a focus that is not encumbered by a lot of things, things that would make you go out-of-control much like alchohol does. All three of these things come from saturating ourselves in the word and prayer, seeking a closeness with Jesus to the point that this world fades. 

Then finally, we are to eagerly look forward to His return where He takes us to Himself instead of thinking about all the worldly things that you still want to do. Why should I not look at and even enjoy what the world has to offer? Because Jesus gave Himself for us. He redeemed us from sin and all of its evil consequences, and He wants to purify us so that we might be a peculiar people zealous of good works. Peculiar, sure we can see that! But zealous of good works. How many of the world's great humanitarians have been Christians? How often do unsaved people have a much greater compassion for those hurting and suffering? That is to our shame!

So there is the answer to our questions about purpose and focus. If we are doing things in life that taint any of the directives in these verses, then we are not where we should be! Instead of drawing closer to Jesus, we are drawing closer to the world. We can't be neutral. We are either hot or cold.

Father,

I thank You so much for this passage this morning. It has really spoken to my heart. Make my focus and my purpose be always in sync with Your purpose and focus for me.

In Jesus name,

Amen