Thought for Friday, June 22 2012

June 22, 2012

Aim High

I have always heard it said, ‘that anything worth doing is worth doing well.’

We encourage our children, especially those in middle and high school, or who may have just graduated and are headed to college, to set goals, to aim high and to strive towards achievement that will optimize and enable them to be the best that they can be.

Should we as Christians have any less aspirations and ambitions?

Should we not aim high, pressing forward, striving to become the best and greatest servant and disciple that we can be for God?

Sometimes I think when it comes to spiritual matters we don’t stretch ourselves and reach for the next level.  There may be a variety of reasons or maybe they should be called excuses, as to why we are satisfied with mediocrity or even under achievement when it comes to our spiritual pursuits and ambitions.

Do you really believe God is worthy of only our least amount of ambition or our minimalistic endeavor and effort?  Doesn’t He deserve our optimum, most extreme, most intense attempts possible when it comes to our service for Him?

Spiritually speaking are you aiming high or flying low?

“Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps ‘til the legend over steep ways to the stars’ fulfills self.”

-       William C. Doane

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

Our ultimate prize is to meet Him face to face – but in the meantime – we have a whole lot of living to do.  Isn’t it about time we set our sights high, aim to be as pleasing to Him as we can be and embraced the desire and determination to do the most and the best for Him that we can do?

Today’s Prayer

Father, you’re never slack in going to the extreme for the good of your children: help me to be extreme and to aim high in my ambitions, pursuits and endeavors for you.

“My life is in You Lord
My strength is in You Lord
My hope is in You Lord
In You, it’s in You

I’ll praise You with all of my life
I’ll praise You with all of my strength
With all of my life, with all of my strength
All my hope is in You “

-  Lyrics from ‘My Life Is In You Lord’ by Daniel Gardner