Friday, 23rd February 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: HAVE SUPERIOR CHRISTIAN GOALS
THEME SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:10
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- Do you have goals in this life?
- Do you have goals for your Christian journey?
- Having been born again what do you want to achieve with this new life in Christ?
It is great many Christians know that they are born again. The problem is, many people have become Christians and it seems that is the end of it. As a result, their Christian lives are not driven. All they know is to go to church on Sunday and come home. But is this the Christian life? Going to church on Sundays? Any life that has no vision, marks time. That life goes nowhere. Sadly, it is possible to find people with no vision in this life. It is sadder to find Christians who have no goals for their spiritual life. This is why they are not growing; they seem to be going nowhere with their spiritual lives.
Precious One, now you are born again, what have you become? What manner of person is the one who is born again? If we know who we are, it will be easier to set lofty goals for our lives.
To be born again is to be born of God. It is a life in Christ Jesus, meaning your life’s ecosystem is the Christ-ecosystem. Christ Jesus is the foundation, pillar and the glory of the ecosystem of your life. Isn’t this remarkable?
Understanding the superiority of the life he has received in Christ, Paul set out his goals. His goals were these – to know God intimately (experiential knowledge), to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and to be counted among those who have suffered for Christ’s sake. Precious One, these are powerful goals to pursue in life also. Ask why.
There is no difference in people but one – who and what they have chosen to believe. Skin colour, gender, economic status, education, etc. are only artificial differences because man is a spirit who dwells in a container called a body.
For instance, milk may be packaged in a blue container to make it easier to transport. That cannot make you think the colour of milk is blue, right? The same way with your skin colour, whether white or coloured. Knowing the true God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent is the game-changer, the life eternal (John 17:3). You know, some people do not know their spouses after decades of marriage. The same with some Christians – they know God by what they have read and been told but lack an experience with Him. Such a Christian life is hollow and untested.
Secondly, the resurrection power is a game-changer in life. We were raised up with Christ by the resurrection power. Will it not be great to know this power and how to wield it? This power is in the Holy Spirit and knowing how to use it is a blessing. Money can solve some physical problems but the resurrection power makes you reign in the spirit and in the flesh.
Precious one, go for the resurrection power. Know it to use.
And lastly, being part of the community of believers who have the mark of Christ’s suffering on their back (Gal 6:17). If we suffer with Christ, we will also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us (2 Tim 2:12). Our devotional “Suffer For Christ’s Sake” can help you build a deeper understanding of this goal Paul had.
Beloved, we need to do more than go to church or using God to get what we want. It is time to dream lofty dreams for your spiritual life. With the Spirit in you and with you, you're going to mature in the rich experience of knowing God in His fullness. Our lives (your life and my life) in the real are so large and immensely rich that it will take an eternity to spend it all. So choose to live by spiritual goals. Praise God!
FURTHER READING – Romans 6:3-5
QUESTION TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- This year, what are your targets for your spiritual life? What goals are in your heart to realize?
CONFESSION
Precious Father, thank you for what you have made me in Christ Jesus. I know who I am and what I am capable of. From today going forward, I choose to live a life with spiritual goals instead of material ones. A life that reigns in all circumstances because I am born of God. Hallelujah!
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 37; Psalm 96; Psalm 97; Psalm 98; Psalm 99; 1 Corinthians 7
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