Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV).

I have been reading Bob Russell’s book, When God Builds a Church. In it he writes about one occasion when he went to The Pancake Factory restaurant and noted that their luncheon special for the day was a grilled chicken sandwich with spicy Mexican sauce. He felt that they had lost their focus!

There are many businesses that have lost their focus. However, there is no sadder state than when a church, or worse a Christian loses their focus. It’s too easy to get sidetracked into doing many good things, but miss the main thing. I have had the opportunity more so in the last few months to ask many people in leadership positions in churches all across the southeast, “What is your mission?” Oh, when I ask, "How many believe that God has a purpose for your life?" Almost every hand is raised. But, when I ask about their personal mission barely a hand is raised!

• First of all, if we are to be true followers of Christ our focus needs to be on him and to be committed to living in harmony with God's will according to the principles found in the Bible, so that we glorify God in all that we are and do.
• Second, our purpose needs to include our personal and spiritual growth and maturity.
  Third, God's purpose for us is also in how we invest our lives in living for and serving Him. Keep in mind that we serve God by serving others; using the gifts and talents that God has given to each of us.
• Fourth, our purpose as Christians is also to be witnesses for Christ—not as a preacher or evangelist (although that will be true for some)—but in all that we are and do so that others seeing Jesus in us will want him for themselves, and to share our Christian faith as the opportunity arises.