May 5

Selfishness is not to be indulged in the life of a professor of Christ. The Word makes it clear that the believer is expected to die to himself that he may be fully alive in Christ. Paul, the great Apostle, knew this was required of him and he knew it would be required of those who would come after him.

In the letter he wrote to Titus, Paul stated this expectation very clearly. Paul was not one to mince words under any circumstances, but he certainly would not sugar coat something as essential to the practice of the pure faith as total devotion to the One whose Kingdom he served.

In Titus 3:8 Paul makes it very clear. He states, “This is a worthy and faithful saying and I would hope that you affirm it constantly! They who have believed the Word of God must be diligent to apply themselves to good works that are profitable to all men.”

When one has embraced Jesus as his own, when he has devoted his life to the furtherance of His Kingdom and His purposes, he must reorient the entire focus of his life. His endeavors are no longer to benefit merely himself! He is to be Kingdom-focused so the will of the Lord is ever foremost in all he is and does!