There’s a lot of heartache and ungodliness going on in our world right now. All you have to do is turn on the news or read your social media timeline to be reminded of that. But the last couple of weeks our Tuesday morning men’s Bible study has offered our participants a much needed, fresh, Biblical perspective. The study has been over the subject of being “temperate” or “sober-minded” from 1Tim 2:2. To be temperate is to be a Christ-follower with a clear, God-informed outlook on life and not in a constant state of anxiety because of world’s conditions. No matter how undesirable and ungodly our world may be, we have to remember, that this world is not our home or our final destination. We are ambassadors (2Cor 5:20) and citizens of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb 11:28). So even in troubled times we can be temperate!

Our focus should not be on all the problems, but on the problem solver! Hebrews 12:1-2 says:

….let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

How do we become more temperate? Three words: FAITH, HOPE, LOVE.

Saving FAITH (Eph 2:8-9)

Eternal HOPE (1Peter 1:3-4)

Abiding LOVE (1Cor 13:4-6)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Would you say that your outlook has been marked by FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE or more like fear, dread, bitterness? It may be time to refocus….on Christ!

Big thanks to Dylan Schafer for leading our men’s study this summer. We meet each Tuesday morning at 6am and would love for you to join us.

Blessings,

Roy