Weekly Devotional from
Pastor Eddie Jenkins
October 15th, 2025
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—
the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith"(Philippians 3:7-9).
In these verses from Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church, Paul outlines for them and for us the goals he had set for his life. As we read about his life in the book of Acts and other places, it becomes very evident that even though there were often times of despair and frustration, he ultimately lived his life in keeping with the goals that he had set.
I find it interesting that almost every modern book on success in business and life focuses on setting goals. For some reason Christians often resist this kind of thinking. Why? Are we dismissing the concept of setting life goals as presumption upon God? If so, we're dead wrong!
Setting goals is not a way of telling God what He can and cannot do in our lives. Goals don't tell Him to take a back seat while we drive the wagon. Setting goals means taking aim, moving toward things He values, and recognizing it is His prerogative to shift directions on us. We flex when He does. People who aim at nothing generally hit it. God doesn't want our lives to be a bunch of misfires, mistakes, and miscues.
Goal setting and God's will are not opposites. Goal setting is a method of taking temporal control of our lives, realizing God is ultimately in charge. Goal setting also involves determining the direction of our lives, realizing God always has the last word there, too. We take nothing out of His hands when we set goals. We can take nothing out of His hands! Is there anything in your life He cannot touch in some way if He desires? No, I don’t think so!
The primary goal of the believer climbing the mountain of commitment is Christlikeness. Paul says, “…that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith….” It is easy to see that Paul’s ultimate desire was to be like Christ.
True Christlikeness only comes when we are at last in His presence and have shed the mortal for immortality. Until then, may we keep climbing . . . progressively becoming doers of His word, not just hearers. We express our obedience by setting goals to develop Christ-like qualities and to accomplish things we have learned from our time in His word, in prayer, and in sensitivity to His Spirit. May God allow us to be more like Christ each day should be our constant prayer, and may God bless you richly as you strive to achieve that goal.
To God be the glory!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK WITH JESUS!
Pastor Eddie Jenkins
