What is the Number One Goal of Your Life?

Ruth 1; Ruth 2; Psalm 53; Psalm 61; 2 Corinthians 5
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Scripture

2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Observation

What is the number one goal of your life?

What is the driving force of your life? What is most important to you? Paul’s answer to that question is found in this passage in verse nine, “So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.” And it should be the highest goal in our lives too.

Matthew 6:33 says, “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”

Remember the great commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

When pleasing God is your number one priority then all of your other priorities seem to work out ok. When pleasing God is not at the top of our priority list then all of our priorities are all messed up, because we were designed to function best when God has the number one place in our lives.

I talked with some folks yesterday at the Preschool Easter Egg hunt about coming to church and especially attending the Easter service next Sunday. I could tell that they knew that it should be important, but what they don’t realize is how God would bless them if they just make pleasing Him their main goal in life.

Application

I will begin to visit those that were at the Easter Egg hunt and encourage them to apply verse nine!

“18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me communicate the Good News this week with everybody I talk to. I pray for the young families that came to the Preschool Easter Egg hunt. I pray that you put a desire in their lives to put You first. I pray for their salvation. I pray that we would be able to reach some of them. It is my desire to please You today. Help me to do those things that honor You and bring You glory. Direct my thoughts and protect my heart from things that would cause me to sin. I pray for our leadership today. Help them to worship You and serve You with all of their hearts. I pray for my staff today. May people see Jesus in them. May they bring You glory. May they please You today!

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