If you're a follower of Christ, then I'm sure you prayed and asked God for direction when setting personal goals. But have you ever asked this question: What are God's goals for me?
I think we'd all say that God wants our obedience. That's really important to Him. Or maybe we'd say He wants us to love other people, right? And certainly, Jesus wants us to love Him. Of course. These are the two great commands, after all (Matt. 22:36-40).
But in John 15, Jesus tells His disciples, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”(John 15: 9-11; emphasis added).
Love? Yes. Obey? Yes. But why? So we might know joy. God wants us to know joy.
It's not really surprising. Think about God as our Father. A good father wants his kids to obey; a good father desires that his kids love him. But at the top of every good father's list for his kids is that they are happy—or more accurately, that they experience joy.
Jesus wants His joy in you, and He wants it to be full, complete, whole. Knowing this truth and believing Jesus’ words could radically change the way you approach your priorities. Whatever they are, and however you succeed at keeping them, remember this: God's goal for you is joy!
Written by Ron Benson
