What’s Up With Intentions?

Good Intentions

Are good intentions really good? I use the phrase we like to judge others by their behaviors, but we want to be judged by our intentions. You see, we want people to give us the benefit of the doubt when we mess up. However, we don’t always show that same courtesy to others.

This got me thinking about the term “good intentions” and what that really means. Intention is defined as: “a determination to act in a certain way : resolve, import, significance, and what one intends to do or bring about”.

The word good is defined as: “of high quality, of somewhat high but not excellent quality and correct or proper”. So if you take these two words and put them together it supposed to mean that your behaviors will be of high quality or that you plan on conducting yourself in a proper manner.Sounds good doesn’t it?

This led me to remember the scripture that says in Mark 10:18, Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. This scripture is taken from a passage where a rich young person approached Jesus and asked him what he must do to get into Heaven. The young man referred to Jesus as Good teacher. It was to this greeting that Jesus replied with the question Why do you call me good?

This got me thinking. Are my good intentions really good? Am I capable of having good intentions? If Jesus says He’s not good, what does that say about me?

God Intentions

This has led me to look at things a little differently. Instead of basing my intentions on whether they are good or not. I want to base my intentions on whether or not they line up with God’s intentions.

Isaiah tells us, All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6). Let that soak in. Without Christ, what we have to offer is like a filthy rag. You know, one of those rags you get done using and it’s so nasty that you consider throwing it away. That’s us on our own! Now, thank God, that we can become clean just like that rag by being washed.

I want my intentions to be lined up with God’s intentions. I want my intentions to be in sync with what He wants to be accomplished and I believe the 1 Timothy 2:1-4 gives us a glimpse of God’s intentions, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God wants us all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. God wants each and every one of us to spend eternity with Him. He desires that none shall perish. His love is so strong that He provided His Son as our passage to eternal life with Him!

Good Intentions vs. God Intensions

The problem with good intentions is that they are from us; a fallen sinful person. We contaminate them with our own selfishness. The solution with God intentions is that He is in the center of them; a loving graceful God. He fills them with His unending love.

So from now on, I don’t want to be noted for my so called good intentions. I want to be noted for my God intentions. I want people to see that what I do doesn’t bring praise and recognition upon me, but upon the one who created me. I want my intentions to be driven by godliness, holiness and of truth. I want to point people to the Savior of all, Jesus Christ; so that all people would be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Will you join me in this cause?

How can you point people to Christ?