Where to Keep Our Focus

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

    Throughout this month we have studied Titus 2:11-14 and learned:

• To be watchful of how we use our time each day (and aware of the habits already formed in our lives) to make sure we are being wise (Ephesians 5:15-17) and properly denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (v12), leaving no place for the devil to get a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).
• The importance of replacing all bad habits with good ones and how God prepares us for exactly that by telling us what we need to put off/flee and what we need to then put on/pursue, so we can live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age (v12).

    Now, as we finish our study of this passage, we will see the value of having a proper focal point and the truth we can think on so we can remove bad decisions before they become habits and learn to become zealous for good works (v14).

What to Focus on Each Day

    “…the grace of God that brings salvation…” (v11) Only by God’s grace can we be saved (Ephesians 2:1-9), we could not, cannot save ourselves from sin, but God loved us and sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins (1 John 4:9-10, John 3:16-21). Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed – how could we so belittle His sacrifice by returning to lawlessness? God’s grace frees us from the bonds of sin; we need to realize the magnitude of His gift and be vigilant in our effort to keep ourselves from sin and sinful habits (Romans 6, 1 John 1:7-10). God has helped us in this by preparing good works for us to walk in (develop as daily habits, Ephesians 2:10). Jesus gave Himself so that we would be purified from sin and become zealous for good works (v14). We need to think on God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice each day with sincere, unwavering focus and appreciation so our zeal for doing good works can develop and flourish (consider Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3:8, 14).

    “…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ…” (v13) Reminding ourselves that this life is temporary (James 4:14) will help us to make the best use of Today. We are not guaranteed tomorrow (James 4:15-17), but as children of God we have hope of life beyond this life (Titus 1:1-2, 1 John 3:1-3). When we keep our focus on things above (Colossians 3:1-2) we will walk in love, in light, and in wisdom (Ephesians 5:1-17); we will do our utmost to abide in Jesus and practice righteousness (make it a daily habit) so that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28, 1 Timothy 2:15).

    Please read and reread Titus 2:11-14 and if you have time please add the epistle of 1 John to your reading schedule – it fortifies the points in this week’s lesson, as John reminds his readers of all that they can be assured of so that they remain faithful throughout their lives.

    Take time today to think on God’s grace that provides you with hope beyond this life. Recall it to your mind each morning as you open your eyes to a new day; think of it each night before you close your eyes, and be thankful (Psalms 92:1-12). Remain diligent in removing bad habits and deliberate in your desire to develop good ones; focus your mind on the freedom God has granted you by His grace to do beautiful, blessing-filled works (Galatians 5:22-23, “Against such there is no law”) and let your love and appreciation for Him be made evident in your zeal for doing what is right and good!

You can do it! So can I!!

Three Areas to Develop So We Can Flourish Even More

    In this new month I would like to build on our determination to Flourish Even More in 2024 by exploring a passage that tells us how to live: to be watchful of our tendencies/habits with a ready willingness to change them if they are sinful, the good habits we can put in their place, and where to keep our focus so we can maintain our attention in the first two points.  

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

    God, through the apostle Paul, packed so much good information into that one sentence and, if the Lord wills, we will use our time this month to dig into it so we can understand it and live it!

Be Watchful of our Tendencies/Habits So We Can Change the Sinful Ones

“…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts…”  (v12)

Good Habits to Put In Place

“…we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age…” (v12)

“…zealous for good works.” (v14)

Where to Keep Our Focus So We Can Maintain Our Attention

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us…” (v11)

“…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people…” (v14)

    Over the week I would like you to read this passage within its context – the letter to Titus is only 3 chapters long (only 28 sentences!) and well worth your time. Being mindful of these three areas this month will help us to grow and flourish – are you ready?

You can do it! So can I!!

The Benefits of Being Grateful

    We are learning the importance of teaching ourselves to FEEL grateful. God grants us such abundance each day and He simply wants us to acknowledge His generosity and receive it with gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise.

    If you are still struggling with feeling grateful, I would like you to consider these seven points that I have adapted from an online article (by Debbie McDaniel, Fresh Day Ahead), and I have also added verses for each point.

THE POWER OF A GRATEFUL HEART - SEVEN THINGS IT CAN DO:

It gets our eyes off ourselves, and helps us to focus on God (Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23)

It reminds us we’re not in control, but we serve a Mighty God who is. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need Him (Psalm 16:8; 113:1-9; 121:1-2; 147:4-5, Ephesians 2:1-10, 1 Peter 5:6) 

It takes our attention off of our problems and helps us, instead, to reflect on and remember the goodness of His many blessings; it helps us to recognize we have so much to be thankful for (Psalm 68:19, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Peter 5:7) 

It reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We are never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. [Even Solomon in all his glory, with all his wealth, still desperately needed God!] A grateful heart reminds us that ultimately God is our Provider, that all blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand (Acts 17:25, Matthew 6:8, 11, 25-34; 7:7-11) 

A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining; for it is impossible to be truly thankful and be filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time (1 Corinthians 10:7-12, Philippians 2:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

It makes the enemy flee.  Our praises and thanksgiving will guard us from darkness (Colossian 4:2, Philippians 4:4-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9)

It allows our spirit to be refreshed and renewed in Him. God loves to give good gifts to His children. He delights  in our thankfulness and blesses those who give honour and gratitude to Him (Isaiah 30:18; 40:28-31, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 2:6-7)

    We, as Christians, get to be called “the children of God”!! He has granted us abundant blesses both physically and spiritually!! We have hope beyond this life if we work at purifying our hearts through gratitude and thanksgiving (1 John 3:1-3)! Heaven is worth every effort!!

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." (Hebrews 12:28 NKJV) 

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!

"But God Knows Your Hearts"

“And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”” (Luke 16:15 NKJV)

    In this passage Jesus was rebuking the Pharisees (religious leaders/teachers) because they loved receiving money and likely sought out ways to gain more of it (see earlier verses, 1-13, in Luke 16). The focus of their hearts had shifted from religion to monetary gain and with that came the temptation to “tweak” the law – a little adjustment here, a wee modification there – to appease people who were willing to pay for a blind eye being turned on their sinful situation.

    The religious world is full of adaptations, modifications, as well as complete disregard of God’s Truth in an effort to appease sinful people who don’t like God’s boundaries and moral rules. How has this come to be? The desire for popularity (“anything to keep ‘em coming through the doors each week”) and for monetary gain (“We need to keep their money in the coffers”) has most likely led the way.  

    These erring religious leaders seek to justify themselves rather than change their focus back to God. Consider televangelist Kenneth Copeland who, back in late 2015, said he needed a luxury private jet to do his job because ‘you can’t “talk to God” while flying commercial.’ Or just a year or so ago, another televangelist, Jesse Duplantis, who tried to justify his need for a fourth private jet, this one with a price tag of $54 million, by stating he needed this addition to his aircraft fleet “to help him efficiently spread the gospel to as many people as possible.”

    We, especially when we know we are wrong but don’t want to change, can and will try most anything to justify ourselves – “I couldn’t help myself”, “I can’t imagine life without it”, “It will help me do ________ better”, “Things happen for a reason, if God didn’t want me to have ________ than He wouldn’t have given it to me.” etc., etc. – especially when we have gained something pleasing to us in the process.

“But God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”    

    Ponder now, if you will, Proverbs 6:16-19, and the seven things that the Lord hates and considers an abomination:

• A proud look
• A lying tongue
• Hands that shed innocent blood
• A heart that devises wicked plans
• Feet that are swift in running to evil
• A false witness who speaks lies
• One who sows discord among brethren

    Unfortunately, many Pharisees in Jesus’ time would come to be guilty of each of these. The steps leading to this may have felt seemingly innocent to them at first – “a little extra money won’t hurt anyone” – but the main problem was that their shift in focus caused them to look to money and away from God, because you cannot serve both (Luke 16:13).

    Let’s not try to justify ourselves in any of our wants and “needs” – we may fool our friends and even ourselves – but God knows our hearts! Let’s learn to be content with what we have, with what God daily provides (Mathew 6:25-34)! Let us, with grateful hearts, thank Him for our daily bread (Matthew 6:9-13, Ephesians 5:20, 1 Timothy 4:4-5) and appreciate the living bread  - His Word - with which our souls can be nourished with all that is good and truly proper in His sight (Matthew 5:6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:1-2) and let God and His truth be our only focus as we humbly walk the narrow way that leads home (Matthew 7:13-14)!

You can do it! So can I!!