Peace to you, my dear friends! I greet you on this wonderful day and pray for the Lord to help you in your walk and give you success in everything you will do today. Today I would like to start talking about „Worthy Goal for Life”.Every person has a goal, whether he talks about it or not. He is driven to do something. But if we talk about goals, it is important to determinewhether it is WORTHY or UNWORTHY. Paul had a worthy goal and talked about it all the time:
«…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. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again» (Philippians, 1:20-26)
Paul had earnest expectation and hope. What was Paul’s expectation in life? He expected for Christ to be glorified in his body and through his life.A goal is something that fills our minds and gives us motivation in life. Paul looked at his life through the prism of his goal; above all he wanted for Christ to be glorified through his life. A person without expectations does not have faith. Faith is built upon hope and expectation. «Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen» (Hebrews, 11:1).
Faith pursues a specific goal. Faith makes real steps towards a real goal. Where there is no hope or expectation, faith is without fruit. Faith provides the necessary energy or motivation for a person to move forward.If the goal of our life is to gain material things, personal comforts etc., it cannot be considered worthy. Paul saw the knowledge of Christ as the reason to live. Without such goal faith will remain fruitless. The desire to know Christ and to glorify Him in his or her life motivates and propels a person forward.«Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us» (Romans, 5:1-5).
Today you have an opportunity to examine your goals. What are your pursuits? What do you spend you time on? If Christ and the work of His Kingdom are not among your goals, then you are wasting your life and your goals cannot be considered to be a worthy cause. God desires to do great works in your life and through it, but the question is: do you desire it as much? May the desire to get to know Christ and to glorify Him in your life become the main goal for your life!God bless you!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
