"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
Jesus – John 17:3
"In order to…what?" This is truly one of my favorite questions! A number of years ago, while I was working at Shea Homes I was strongly encouraged to ask myself this question continuously. I'm going here or I'm doing this or that "in order to…what?" If I couldn't answer the question consistent with the company and position objectives, goals, values and priorities then I really needed to rethink going there or doing this or that.
It should be no different living life as a follower of Jesus! Whatever we do, wherever we go we should be asking "in order to…what?" Our gracious Father is not only concerned with what we do (John 15:16) but also 'why' we do it. Do you ever consider 'why' you do what you do? Do you ever ask yourself the question 'In order to…what?' For most, we do what we do, eat what we eat, live where we live, work where we work, play where we play in order to make life better. Sadly, we often miss a foundational issue, the definition of life.
Jesus said ' eternal life' (real life, abundant life, life that starts here & now) is all about knowing the God that created us and His Son Jesus! So ask yourself 'Am I doing what I'm doing in order to know Him? How often do we seriously consider the motive behind what we do? Is your greatest desire to know Him? Does that even factor into the desire of our hearts or the daily activities of our life?
"Father, please search me and show me what my motives are. Please show me if I have any other definition of life than Jesus. Father like the Psalmist please bring us to the place where we could say 'Whom have I in heaven but You and besides You I desire nothing on earth.' Oh God, thank you for loving us even when we don't see you as life. Please help us focus on Jesus."
His Kingdom Come,
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