Lots of motivational speakers and financial advisers will encourage you to “keep your eye on the goal.” But what exactly is the goal?

The great problem for many people is that they do not know what the goal in life is, or they have unworthy goals that actually lead nowhere.

Jesus gives us the goal in succinct form when he says, “Love God; love your neighbor.” The goal of life—according to Jesus—is to connect ourselves, now and forever, with the eternal love of God.

The goal of life—according to Jesus—is to connect ourselves, now and forever, with the eternal love of God. Click To Tweet

But how do we arrive at that goal? The good news is that Christ has come to enable us to get there! We arrive at the goal through the grace of Christ and the empowerment of His Spirit.

So keep your eye on the goal . . . and be sure it’s the right one!—the everlasting purpose of God through Jesus Christ. As Paul said, “This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Sunday’s Scripture Readings:
Mark 12:28–34
Ephesians 3:7–21

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.