WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?
“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”- Titus 3:7–9
How we receive instruction and correction from the Word of God depends in large measure on whether we understand it to be meant for us, or if we instead think of how others could apply those truths. I read about an elderly church member shaking hands with the pastor after the service on a Sunday morning. “That was a wonderful sermon—just wonderful,” she said. “Everything you said applies to someone I know!”
The temptation to apply truth to the lives of others rather than our own is not new, but it is misleading. The truth that God wants us to internalize does us no good if we are only concerned with those around us. We see this in the life of Peter after the resurrection. When Jesus had finished their memorable conversation by the Sea of Galilee designed to bring Peter back to a right relationship with Him, Peter immediately turned his focus to John. “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:21–22).
We must resist the temptation to worry about correcting others instead of taking care of our own spiritual condition. We cannot make progress unless we are willing to focus on our own lives and make the necessary changes to bring us in line with what the Bible commands. That is where all spiritual progress begins. (Daily in the Word)
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
