To be deliberate is to always move forward with the destination in mind.

Perhaps the most striking picture of the deliberate Christ is found in Luke 9:51:

“He set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

This is at least six months before his crucifixion, and yet Jesus Christ—the deliberate Christ—is moving forward with the destination in mind.

That kid knows where he’s going

Even twenty years earlier, we find young Jesus on his first visit to Jerusalem where his simple rationale is this:

“I must be about My Father’s business.”

This was the pattern of Jesus’ life. He knew exactly why he came, and everything he did, he did with the destination in mind.

He selected his disciples with the destination in mind.

He graciously tolerated and patiently taught his ever so slow-learning students with the destination in mind.

He sacrificed the comforts of a bed, a home, and a family with the destination in mind.

He spoke to passing strangers with the destination in mind.[1]

Jesus Christ lived deliberately. He was intentional. He was proactive.

Eternal purposes

Yet we can trace the intentionality of Christ much further back than his time as a human on this planet. Peter tells us that Jesus “was foreordained before the foundation of the world”[2] for this same purpose. And Paul takes it a step further when he points out that it was God the Father’s “eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord”![3]

I would suggest based on these truths that intentionality is part of the very nature of God. Indeed, that it is God’s eternal intentionality that has rescued us from our hopeless blindness and restored us to our eternal purpose—to glorify him and enjoy him forever!

Being deliberate is not something for those who are so inclined. It is the overriding pattern of our saviour’s life, and as such, it is a Christian duty.

Every believer is responsible to conduct himself deliberately.

 


[1] John 4:6ff.
[2] 1 Peter 1:20.
[3] Ephesians 3:11.

this is part 4 of 5 in the series
Deliberate living

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About Jason Harris

Dr Jason Harris is a writer, pastor, and academic. He has authored multiple books, articles, and papers including his book Theological Meditations on the Gospel. Jason has a PhD from James Cook University as well as degrees in theology, music, accounting, and research. Jason has lived in Cairns, Australia since 2007 and serves as pastor at CrossPoint Church. You can contact Jason at jason@jasonharris.com.au.

2 Comments

  1. robert 2 March, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Jason, where does spontaneity fit into this? sometimes our intentions and plans can change due to our finiteness/lack of knowledge?

  2. Jason Harris 2 March, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    Robert, This question was raised under part one as well. Perhaps I need to make part three about that. I have some thoughts, but am interested in other’s feedback as well.

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