Renew Your Focus

Have you ever felt like you lost your purpose and focus? It’s easy to do in our lives. The
speed and complexity of life keeps us on the go and pursuing everyone’s agenda but the one
that matters most: God’s. Daniel Henderson, a friend and mentor of mine, has said, “The devil
doesn’t need to destroy us, just to distract us.” The devil would love to keep us doing lots of
good things and a lot of urgent things, while keeping us from the best and most important
things. I have found this true in my life and ministry. I would like to share with you the two-fold
purpose of your life if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, from both of which the enemy wants to
distract you.
Here it is: Our purpose is to seek His face and to share His grace. I’m not merely
attempting to be clever and create an alliteration. I truly believe these are two enduring biblical
purposes for believers. First, our purpose is to seek God’s face. To seek God’s face is to seek His
presence. It is to seek God for the purpose of knowing, experiencing, and gaining more of God,
and not more of what He can give us. We seek God’s face in two foundational ways: We seek
His face through His Word (The Bible), God’s special revelation of Himself, His character,
attributes, and His will (Psalm 19). We also seek His face through prayer. Psalm 63:1 says, “O
God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in
a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Notice that David said, earnestly I seek YOU; my
soul thirsts for YOU; even my flesh faints for YOU. He didn’t desire any THING before he had
God. He desired intimacy with God, first. King David told Asaph in 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the
Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” We are told in the New Testament in Hebrews
11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that
He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” To seek God is done through
worship, both corporate and personal daily worship. Jesus said in John 4 that God is looking for
worshippers. He commended one disciple named Mary in Luke 10:38-42, saying that she had
chosen the best thing, which was to sit at His feet and listen to Him. Our purpose is the same as
followers of Jesus Christ, that we would seek His face through worship and prayer.
Second, our purpose is to share God’s grace. God’s grace is His undeserved favor and
kindness. Paul speaks of God’s grace in Ephesians 2:8-9, where He said, “It’s by grace you have
been saved through faith. This is not of yourselves; It is a gift from God…” Grace, as something
that is given to us and is undeserved, is a gift. And what we receive as a gift we are also called
to share as a gift. God’s grace and salvation is the best news ever. In Acts 20:24 Paul said, “I do
not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the
ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul
understood that he had freely received from the riches of God’s grace and therefore is called to
freely share that grace with others. We have been given the commission to make disciples of all
nations (Matthew 28:19), which includes sharing the good news. We have been commanded to
preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15). We share God’s grace in more ways than just
sharing the gospel verbally, but it is at least sharing the gospel so that others who are far from

God may have the opportunity to receive the same gift. We also share His grace anytime we
give of ourselves to others from the overflow of our gratitude for His gracious gift.
That’s the purpose that you have been created for: to seek His face and share His grace.
Have you lost sight of one or both of those purposes? If the answer is yes, be honest with
yourself and with the Lord. He is gracious not only to forgive, but also to empower you to fulfill
that purpose. Next, what is stopping you from fulfilling this two-fold purpose? Is it busyness? Is
it your smart phone that distracts you? Maybe there is some kind of unresolved sin in your
heart that is keeping you from Seeking Him and sharing Him? Let me encourage you to begin
with prayer. First, consider that God is worthy to be sought by you and why? Take some time to
seek Him, Something like this: Lord, you are worthy to be sought ahead of everything else
because… Next, take time to give Him thanks for some specific ways He has shown you His
grace. Then, consider, with whom would God want you to share His grace with? Think of
someone specific. Ask Him for someone to share His grace with today. Then be prepared for
opportunities He will give you to share how God has been gracious to you. Renew your focus on
your two-fold purpose: To seek His face and share His grace.