“I want to know Christ; yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:10-12
Last Monday, my message was about not only ‘hearing Jesus’ better, but also being better at ‘sharing Jesus’ more effectively. I really do hope that you remembered that and have been working on your testimony. Today, I want to take this time to share three reasons why we, you, me and a bunch of Haitian kids, should set some goals this year to share the reason why we need Jesus.
I have set goals throughout my life and the biggest nugget of wisdom from those goals is the times I have failed, was because they were way over my head. A goal doesn’t have to be big. For instance, when I had brain surgery, my first goal after I was taken to my room was to sit up in bed without hurling the contents of my stomach. After that, it was standing up, putting on my COVID face mask, cover my back end so I didn’t resemble Jack Nicholson from the ‘As good as it gets’ movie and then walking down the hallway in the ICU at OSF in Bloomington. Those were small goals, but attainable and very important. To get from where you are to where you want to be isn’t usually accomplished in one big leap. It takes many small steps. A goal doesn’t have to be ‘big’ to be important.
Set goals because they build your character. Oh sure, you may already be a real character but goals will prayerfully help you be a better character. The greatest benefit to your life will not be your accomplishments but rather what happens inside you while you’re moving toward your goal. God is more interested in your character than your accomplishments. While you’re working on your goal, God is working on you. He is building your character, because that’s what will last for eternity.
Set goals because ‘good goal’s’ will prayerfully bring hurting people closer to Christ. Our fallen world is full of hurting people who need Jesus. When you give your time, talents and treasures to a good goal, it brings honor and glory to Christ and also builds a legacy on earth and be with you to eternity.
The Apostle Paul was a goal setter and God wants you to be one as well so that people He has placed along your journey can find hope, from you, that will lead them to a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay