What Is Your Goal?

“And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt 26:51-52 KJV

That we are with Jesus does not mean we have become like Jesus. Until we allow Him work on us through and through, we will still exhibit much traits in the flesh. Peter had been with Jesus for three years; a period long enough for his character and lifestyle to have been thoroughly modified especially as it was evident that Jesus was going back to His Father. He would have thought that the people in whose hands He was leaving the work have become matured enough and highly dependent only for Peter to draw out the sword violently in anger and cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest. If opportunity was available, he might have even cut off the head in the defense of Jesus.

At times, we erroneously think we are zealous for the Lord when we are wounding others and possibly all-out to get rid of them. There are certain situations that actually reveal our true identities if we would dare stop to ponder and see that though we have been walking with Jesus; possibly serving Him day and night yet have not become like Him.

I quake at the thought of this when the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to it. It is a different thing being with Jesus even for years and another thing being like Him. Of what benefit is it to God’s Kingdom if all we can show is our years of being with Him; our years and times of labour for Him and not a testimonial of His life formed in our character, our thoughts, attitudes and disposition to relating with others. Of what use is the energetic activities carried out for Him if we have not yielded to the workings of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives; some which are hidden until opportunities present themselves and then it becomes clear that there is deficiency.

The older brother of the “prodigal son” had been labouring in the fields of His father but he never had the heart of his father. Jonah was a servant of God, but he did not have the heart of God. The true state of his heart was revealed when he refused to respond in love to the people of Nineveh.

The goal of the Christian life is becoming like Christ, not just labouring for or walking with Him. Walking with Christ should lead us to becoming like Him. Peter had been with Jesus, but unfortunately, he hadn’t become like Jesus! He was still very revengeful, temperamental and violent as against the loving, gentle nature of Christ. He hadn’t really understood the ways and the mission of Christ even though he had walked closely with Him! He didn’t mind wounding or killing others because of his zeal for Christ, but that wasn’t Jesus’ style. He hadn’t become like Christ! The difference became clearer in the lives of the disciples in Acts 4:13 because the Holy Spirit had begun to work on them and people could see that they had been with Jesus.

As I meditate on this, I cannot but say “Father, help us”!

May the Spirit of the Lord draw us closer and closer to becoming more like Christ until He is fully formed and expressed through us. May whatever need to be worked upon in us, be revealed to us and to the transforming and remodeling power of the Holy Spirit. May our goal and the essence of our lives be based on who we have truly become in Christ rather than just the experience we have gathered in walking with Him. May our walk with Him lead to continually shaping and reshaping us for His glory and pleasure. Amen!

© Funmi Adebayo