From the beginning, we have envisioned this website as a tool to connect our Calvary Family. Almost every week, as we end the message time, Will Toburen and I try to give you practical application that will enable you to live out the message. Our vision is that this devotional site will help us take the “Putting It Into Practice” to the next level.

So, this week, let’s take the points from last Sunday’s message and talk about how we can live it! We looked into the first few verses of Titus and talked about how to become a person of influence. We listed the qualities that set apart the servant-leader. The first one is:

NOT SELF-WILLED.
This is a compound word in the Greek text. It comes from these two words:
>autos: the reflexive pronoun that means “self”
>hedone: to please; delight; desire; pleasure
(we get the term “hedonism” from this word)

Perhaps it goes without saying but the self-willed person is self-serving. For him, it is all about “my life,” “my comfort,” “my desires,” etc.

Living a LIFE of influence requires a change of focus. It is a big turn off when people sense you are using them to meet your needs. We are asking God to let our faith permeate every area of our life, right? Let’s try and notice those times when we demand our own comfort instead of laying down our rights for the good of another.

Jesus said, “but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant…” (Matt. 20:26). "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35).

Father,
I want people to see You working in my life. Help me to take my eyes off of my personal comfort and my personal rights.

Reveal to me the ways that I am “self-willed” and open my eyes to see the ways that I can become a servant to others.

In Jesus Name, Amen.