What is your goal ?

Sunday May 16, 2021

What is your goal ?

1 Corinthians 9:26 - I therefore run, not as an adventure ; I hit, not like beating the air.

Do you know this expression : "To stir the air" ? It is said of a person whom one has the impression that he is doing many things but who in fact does nothing. In secular work, you can very quickly distinguish a person who knows the goal to be achieved and a person who "stirs the air". The one who knows the goal to be reached will work, put everything in place to reach the goal and her work will move forward, she will be efficient and productive. The other, on the other hand, runs in all directions but in fact does not move an iota, that is to say, his work is not moving forward. There is no completion.

Isn't that sometimes the case with us ? When I meditate on this verse, this is what I get from it. Paul ran but not by chance, not according to the winds, his desires, his impulses, but he was running towards a goal, which implies that he knew the goal to be reached.

We were each born for a purpose. Yes, God, when He created us in our mother's womb, had already laid out a plan for our life, a goal to be achieved. This goal is defined by Him, not us. To be convinced of this, it suffices to read the Word of God : the examples of men and women called by God are numerous and clearly demonstrate that human beings did not choose their calling. Besides, most felt unable to fulfill this call and did not want to enter into it, finding a thousand excuses before God.

We are to come into God's plans, not make him part of our plans. I like to say : "When the enemy can't stop us, he pushes us." What does this mean in concrete terms ? This means that when the enemy cannot stop the work of God, he will push us to do a lot of things that are not within the scope of our call, also push us to be everywhere at the expense of a balanced life. He knows that in this way we are going to run out of steam at some point, that we will no longer be under the cover of God in what we do because not mandated by Him and out of the sphere of authority that He has given us for this mission. It is therefore important to know the goal to be reached and not to get lost.

So how do you know him ? First of all, by seeking the Author of this goal through meditation on the Word of God but also in hearts to hearts with Him, seek to know Him, listen to Him. Then the Word of God encourages us to do what our hand finds to do. In Luke 16:10 we are also told that he who is faithful in the smallest things is also in great ones. Unfortunately, we are often drawn to what seems great to us : preaching, being in the worship group, having a great mission... However, God awaits us in things that seem less to us and which will demand from us. loyalty and constancy. This, at the risk of offending you, can start by cleaning the community toilets, cleaning...

If we are faithful and steadfast in those things which are small in our eyes but great in the sight of God, He will not fail to put other things at hand so that we can do them and so we will gradually grow, evolve, be transformed by God and our mentality will change. We will be brought to a better understanding of how the Kingdom of God works, which is to serve and not to be served. Mark 10:43 to 45 : "But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant; and whoever wants to be the first among you, let him be everyone's slave. For the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve".

Oh, how the Apostle Paul understood this and how he followed the example of his Lord. In our turn, let us run towards the goal which God will show us with fidelity and perseverance, without slackening us ; and if we don't know that purpose yet, let’s be faithful in the little things God will put in our way as stepping stones to a next step gradually leading us toward the purpose we were born to be.

Good reflection.

Source (Ezekiel 37 Ministries)