Topic: Distracted from God’s Purpose [Tony Evans Devotional 25 November 2019]

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In His Presence: Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7).

Position is a distraction—everybody wants to be somebody. When you accepted Christ you became somebody, but if you are seeking position independently of God’s purpose, you have been duped by the deceiver. Your name may be up in lights today, but years from now people won’t remember your name. Remember the apostle Paul was quite a man in his day and age, but he said that his claim to fame was only that he was a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

People also become distracted from their purpose when they spend their lives living for other people. People are very important to God; we are to serve, love, and minister to people. But pleasing God is more important than pleasing men. God wants us to live for Him and His glory, and to do that we must sometimes go against what other people want. When it comes to fulfilling our calling, what matters is what God wants us to do.

Another distraction from moving forward in God’s purpose is dealing with the past. Paul said: “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I d forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). We all have regrets, but Paul said we are not to allow our yesterdays to determine our tomorrows. Instead of living with a rear-view mirror mentality, we should focus on the windshield and the big picture that is in front of us.

One Minute Please

Don’t let yesterday mess up today, which will ruin tomorrow.