Goals and Objectives

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may [a]prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

Serving 25 years in public education I have been driven by the learning goals and objectives for each class. One administrator I worked for wanted us to post on our walls three things. 1. What are we going to learn? 2. How are we going to learn it? and 3. How will we demonstrate we have learned it? We were charged with putting the answers on the board for the students so they knew the plan for the unit. As I was reading this text last night it struck me that Paul is giving us the learning for the unit of life. 
1. What are we going to learn? We are going to learn that Love is the highest goal a Christian can pursue. Being Christ-like means demonstrating that love to everyone we meet, saint and sinner the way he did here on the earth. Even as God demonstrated his love to us that He loved us when we were yet sinners and lost that He sent Christ to die for us. 

2. How are we going to learn it? We are going to learn this by watching the example of Christ and imitating Him until it becomes part of who we are. In a world filled with hate and venom, we need more Christ in the world!! Look at the examples He left us in the Gospels, seek out examples of people here, and pray Lord love through me until I disappear and they only see you!!

3. How will we demonstrate we have learned it? By living the life that Christ has empowered you to live. Allowing His love to radiate through you into the lives of all you meet. Leaving the love of Christ in our wake, will do more to heal our land than bringing Christianity into the political realm, where nothing is left untarnished. 

I can't leave this topic without mentioning the gifts he mentions. The church has ignored the Spirit-filled life far too long. As the love takes hold and we see the world as He sees it, we will seek the gifts not to show off, but to reach the lost, to heal the sick, to bind up those whose heart's are broken, and to let the captive know that they are free. In every war, some prisoners never come home, both Korea and Vietnam are both start reminders of that truth. HOWEVER, once Christ sets you free the enemy can't keep you in his prison, you can walk out of the prison, free shouting the victory to all who will listen. Believe me I know, when Christ set me free I couldn't wait to tell my fellow prisoners we can all walk out of here together free, just turn to the Master. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, let the Love You have given shine through me. Let people not see me, but see Christ who lives in me. Love through me until it becomes my lifestyle and my default setting. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. AMEN.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you friends. 
Eric