FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Psalm 103:19-22; 40:7, 8; Hebrews 10:7-9; Luke 2:49; John 4:31-34; John 19:30; Luke 24:36-47; Acts 26:14-18; Philippians 3:14; II Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 12:2, 3; Ephesians 1:15-20; Colossians 1:9-12; Romans 12:1, 2; Psalm 92:10; 119:12, 26, 33, 64; Ephesians 2:8, 10

From our youth, we are taught and conditioned to be goal-oriented. We must have a vision and set goals. To accomplish them, we make objectives. In business, athletics, the military, etc., it is common to set goals and objectives in order to be successful. In all these things, the goal is to win.

The same is true in the Christian faith. If we want to be victorious and accomplish things, it requires that we set goals and objectives to follow to attain them. But the greatest goal should be to do the will of God.

God exhorts us not to forget His benefits in Psalm 103 and reminds us that He remembers we are dust. It also points out what should be our greatest goal. In considering the life of Jesus Christ, we read at the end of the gospel of John that if all his works were written down, there would not be books enough to contain them. Jesus Christ’s goal for his life was not to obtain the accolades of men and receive the riches of this life. It was to be about the Father's business.

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he gave them an example. Within it are the words, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done." He taught them to seek the will of God by prayer and study.

The Apostle Paul also wanted to know God's will and to do it. He wrote to Timothy that it is God's will for all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. The truth is how we understand the will of God and that great inheritance which has the promise yet to come. Our purpose is no different for the Apostle Paul's. His goal was to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The things we do in this life will be rewarded in the life yet to come.

The idea of goals and objectives is not only to give us something to focus on, but a path to get there. We must be about our Father's business. We may need at times to reevaluate and realign our objectives, but God rewards us for our faithfulness to do His will.

Some things regarding the will of God in our lives are revealed in the scriptures. But God also gave us His spirit so we can seek His will in specifics. We should ask Him for information and wisdom in our daily lives. He will teach, guide and direct us to do His will.

God has foreknowledge. He knows the things that will come up in our lives. He has given us His Word and holy spirit so we can have a fresh encounter with Him each day. As we obey Him, seeking to do His will and carrying it out, we will be walking in good works, doing the will of God, which He has foreordained that we should walk in. Let us consider our spiritual goals today in light of the greatest goal of doing God's will.