Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” with the point being that we should live with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
This is the main scripture we will be looking at this year.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
(Ephesians 1:4-5 ERV)
4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people–people who could stand before him without any fault.
5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it.
Laying the foundation.
At the beginning of this year, I shared Proverbs 4:25 with you and 20 other scriptures, each aligned with the focus for the year. I shared a few thoughts about each of the 20, but I told you that we could go back and dive deeper into each. Today, we start that deeper look with Ephesians 1:4-5 ERV, uncovering the truth about our divine selection and purpose. This isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about transforming how we live, pray, and pursue our calling in Christ. Let’s get into it.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God Divinely Selected You Before the World Was Made.
Ephesians 1:4 (ERV) – “In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people–people who could stand before him without any fault.”
— Our predetermined selection reaffirms the need for a laser focus on God’s fixed purpose (our theme for the year), understanding that our lives are not random occurrences but integral parts of God’s overarching plan.
— Acknowledging that we were chosen “in Christ” before the world’s foundation encourages us to maintain a focused relationship with Him, as it is through Christ that we will understand and fulfill our divine purpose.
— Knowing that we were divinely selected should urge us to view our daily lives through the lens of God’s eternal perspective, reinforcing the importance of aligning our actions, decisions, and prayer life with His will. Said another way, when you know God already made plans, you attempt to do all you can to live in accordance with what He already destined you to walk in because you know His grace is connected to His plans.
— The call to be holy and faultless is a call to purposeful living, where every choice is made with the consciousness of our divine selection, driving us towards God’s specific intentions for our lives. When we live this way, we live with a purpose, believing it is God’s fixed purpose for us.
— Let’s go back and look at Proverbs 4:25 TPT: “Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.” Our divine selection emphasizes the importance of ignoring distractions and focusing on the path God has laid out for us from eternity.
2. You Were Chosen to Be Holy and Faultless.
Ephesians 1:4 (ERV) – “…He chose us in love to be his holy people–people who could stand before him without any fault.”
— Our calling to holiness is a key aspect of God’s fixed purpose for us, requiring a focused effort to live in alignment with God’s standards and expectations.
— Some people mistake the abundance of God’s grace to mean they don’t have to be holy. These people must not have read the Bible. Grace is not a license to sin; it is an empowerment not to. Said another way, you are not free TO sin; you are free FROM sin.
— The journey towards faultlessness, empowered by God’s grace, demands that we continually refocus our lives on God and His righteousness.
— God made Jesus sin for us, and God made us righteous in Him. Therefore, we should attempt (by God’s grace) to live in the righteousness Jesus died to provide for us.
— Standing before God without fault is a result of Christ’s intercession and our continual focus on living lives that reflect His grace and truth.
— Holiness in our personal and communal lives is a testament to our commitment to God’s fixed purpose, showcasing the transformative power of living with a kingdom mindset.
— When you first get Born-Again, you are righteous, but you don’t know how to live righteously. However, if you give yourself over to genuine discipleship, it should impact your character and conduct. When people who have not seen you in years come in contact with you, they should meet someone with a level of holiness and righteousness that directly reflects their discipleship in Christ.
— Going back to Proverbs 4:25, living a life of holiness and purpose mirrors the directive to set our gaze on the path God has ordained, avoiding distractions that detract from our divine calling.
3. You Were Adopted as God’s Child by Design.
Ephesians 1:5 (ERV) – “And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it.”
— Adoption into God’s family signifies a personalized calling, where our focus on His purpose becomes not just a duty but a response to His love and desire for intimacy with us.
— As children of God, we are called to focus on embodying the family likeness, living out the values and mission of the Kingdom with dedication and purpose. Said another way, if we are God’s children, we should act like it. Our connection to God should be evident in the way we live.
— Our identity as God’s children should sharpen our focus on what truly matters, encouraging us to prioritize our spiritual growth and mission over worldly distractions.
— This divine relationship fosters a prayer life that is both a privilege and a responsibility, driving us to seek God’s face with clarity, purpose, and expectation.
— Going back to Proverbs 4:25, being chosen and adopted as God’s children aligns with the command to look straight ahead with a fixed purpose, understanding that our path is defined by our relationship with the Father and our role in His eternal plan.
In closing, you are not a mistake. You were predestined, chosen, adopted, and called. Now that you know that, what will you do about it? Will you live your life with a laser focus on God’s fixed purpose, or will you choose to ignore all this and pursue selfish desires? God will not force you to go down His path. Your surrender to His will must be a voluntary act of your heart.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I live with a laser focus on Your fixed purpose for my life this year!
I was divinely selected and am part of Your eternal plan.
I acknowledge my calling to be holy and faultless, embracing the life You destined for me.
I am Your child, adopted through Jesus Christ, and I live to reflect Your glory.
My life is focused on fulfilling Your purpose, ignoring worldly distractions.
In all my ways, I seek to embody the values and mission of Your Kingdom.
I am confident in my identity as Your child, living out my divine role with dedication.
I embrace the responsibility of being chosen, using my life to advance Your Kingdom.
As I walk my path, I look straight ahead with fixed purpose, fully surrendered to Your divine plan.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. AMEN!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
