Goals to help us do the “How”

Weekly Devotion – January 22, 2012 – Goals to help us do the “How”

Theme/Title:   Keep Your Eyes on the Prize! 

Scripture:   Philippians 3: 12-16 & Mark 12: 28-31

Media:  YouTube video David Summerford “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” 

 

Reflection:

I have a hard time with goals.  Not with setting them or seeing their value and importance.  The problem I have with goals is that I do such a poor job of achieving them.  I allow myself to get distracted or I don’t keep the ultimate goal in mind. 

Often my struggle with goals is twofold:  I either do not have a clear end result identified or I haven’t recognized the benchmarks along the way.  Goals are fine, but if the ultimate prize isn’t very well defined or understood then no matter the goals they will not be achieved in any meaningful way.  If the end result is clear and goals are set I still can’t accomplish my mission if I don’t have clear, specific and reasonable benchmarks to measure my progress. 

A goal is the purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.  A benchmark is a standard by which something can be measured or judged and is used to determine if a goal is being reached. 

In setting goals and benchmarks you have to keep a couple things in mind.  One is that playing to your strengths and your preferences will help and the other is being clear about the what and the how of reaching the goal.  In addition you have to be willing to compromise all else in your effort to complete the mission, subjugating other wants, needs and desires to the ultimate achievement of benchmarks and goals.  Add to this a clear understanding of what your resources are and the passions that drive you and allowing them to influence the goals and benchmarks you set. 

Loving God with all you are and loving your neighbor are goals for the mission God has given us.  But what are the benchmarks?  In the Gospel of Luke the Great Commandments section is followed by the Parable of the Good Samaritan which is Jesus’ answer to the question “who is my neighbor?” which is the setting of a benchmark for the goal of loving your neighbor.  Our benchmarks might be different.  But they will all serve as a standard by which our loving can be measured or judged and used to determine if the goal is being reached.

What do you think the goals and accompanying benchmarks should be for our church?  What are the areas or ministries we have a passion for?  Where can our skills, talents and resources best be used to complete God’s mission?

Meditation:

What is the one issue you are most passionate about?  What are your strengths, passions, skills, talents and resources?  What ministries would they be most useful in? 

Prayer:

Thank God for your skills, talents, resources and passions.  Ask God to reveal to you the places you should be in ministry.  Ask God to reveal to you or someone else the ministries our church should be about.