Goal: November 20, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2013.

GOAL

DEFINITION:

The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

SCRIPTURE:

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: 

During one's lifetime we have many opportunities to set goals. We set these goals, some consciously and some unconsciously. For example, as a child we unconsciously set a goal to quit crawling and start walking. As students in school we set goals in classes, in sports and in activities.

As we grew older we set goals for advance schooling or job selections. We set goals for leaving home and living on our own. We set goals in our married life and then years later as we retired. The point we are making is that every day we live we have opportunities to set goals. The importance of a goal is that it motivates us to achieve.

Years ago I (Ken) developed the habit of writing out a list every night outlining my goals for the next day. I still do that now after all these years. We believe that people accomplish more when they set and record goals in life.

But the most important goals that we need to set are the spiritual goals in our lives. Some of these include the goals we set after we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. The most important goals we should set are to read the Bible and pray every day. We, as believers, need to set goals for our spiritual growth that includes studying God's Word and praying for our role in reaching the world we live in.

The Apostle Paul clearly states his most important goal in the verse we have put at the top of this devotional. He tells us that he presses toward that goal. It is not instantly attained. It is a process. In other words everyday he pushes himself to the commitment he made in his life to know Christ Jesus and to be more like Jesus every day. And part of this commitment was his communication with God, asking Him for direction and wisdom to keep him obedient to God's leading in his life. Paul’s goal was Christ-likeness.

Paul goes on in this verse to tell us that his ultimate goal was the prize of the upward call of Jesus. He daily looked forward to the day he would be called to heaven to be with his Lord and be completely transformed to Christ-likeness. What a clear directive Paul gives to all believers in this verse. Now it is our responsibility to act. It is our responsibility to set Paul's goal as ours.

Are there things in your life that you must change because they are hindering your goal to be more like Jesus Christ? We urge you to learn to set goals for your daily life. As a believer in Jesus, what are you doing to be a witness for Him? We are commanded as believers to "GO." If we are not reaching out to others to show our love for Jesus we are failing. God wants us to set goals and then act on them. When you include God in setting your spiritual goals, watch out what He will do for you.

LEARNING: 

Our memory verse this week is found in I Timothy 1:15.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

PRAYER:

Lord, help me to be aware of those things that are hindering my relationship with You. Help me set goals today that will make me fruitful for You. May my family join me as together we can make an impact for You as we press toward the prize of spending an eternity with You.