June 21st, 20

JUNE, 21   STAY FOCUSSED

Today’s readings are II Kings 8 -9, II Chronicles 21, and I Timothy 4.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Good work requires good focus.  It’s so easy for us to focus on the wrong things.  We can strain, and fuss, argue, and fight, over the wrong things.  But the good work of a servant requires focussing on the right things and working hard.  That’s what Paul tells Timothy.  He tells him:

Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. (I Tim 4:13,15-16 NLT)

He urges Timothy to work hard at these things and to stay focussed. If, somehow, you are under the impression that the life of grace, that we have in Christ, is going to be easy and that it doesn’t require work, you need to be disavowed of this idea, as soon as possible.  God is not opposed to work.  Grace doesn’t mean that we don’t work.It means that we don’t have an attitude that we are earning something, or that, somehow, God owes us something for our work.  God doesn’t owe us a thing.  Instead, he has gifted us with everything.  And because of that, we work hard.  Because of the love that has been shown to us, we stay focussed so that we can do all that he has called us to do.

People laid hands on Timothy and the Spirit spoke through God’s people.  He had been anointed for the work of the ministry.  And now, his task was to work hard in the power of the Spirit of Christ, that was in Him.  In this way he was to accomplish all that God had set out before him.  He was to avoid the pitfalls of pride, arrogance, and religion.  And instead, he was to stay focussed on the simple reality of the Gospel.  Timothy,

…until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. (ITim 4:13 NLT)

Reading the Bible is going to help you stay focused and inspire you to work hard.  As you read the Bible, with a humble spirit, you see that God owes you nothing.  Rather,you owe him everything, because everything has been given to you.

Friends, Paul has asked us to stay focussed today, on Christ and to work hard in that focused life he’s called us to live. Train yourself.  Pursue him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, through the power of Christ living in you.  Your heart needs it, the Church will be strengthened and the world around you will see the beauty of Christ, in you.

You are loved!