What Are Your Spiritual Goals?
If I were to ask you what you planned to do with the rest of your life, what would you say? I understand that the answer to this question would depend on some level as to how old you are and where you are in your life. But I am pretty sure that the specifics of the answer would be related to your activity in the physical world. For example, you would say something about your occupation, your dwelling, your retirement – something along those lines. After all, the world is where we are living, right? And making your way in the world is what life is all about, right?
Wrong. For the Christian, this is not what life is all about. So will someone please tell me why our goals are mostly material? What are your spiritual goals? Do you have any? What do they entail? How specific are they? When do you plan to reach them? Don’t tell me something as simple as “I want to read through the Bible” or “I want to pray more.” Those are cop-out answers. We all need to study and pray more. We all need to grow closer to God.
Let’s do this… I will ask the apostle Paul about his spiritual goals. Paul, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 3:10-14.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also” – Romans 1:11-15.
“…to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified” – Acts 26:18.
“…meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” – Colossians 4:3-4.
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” – Acts 20:24.
“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” – Phil. 1:19-24.
Now, let me ask you again – what do you want to do with the rest of your life?
To Receive Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum
