Intentionality

I mean it.

It was an accident I didn’t mean it.

Two phrases that you may be somewhat familiar with. The second one is an interesting one. I deliver Health and Safety training which brings us across this word and a definition for it goes along the lines that an accident is an unplanned and uncontrolled event that could lead to damage or harm. The key to it is that it wasn’t planned. It was not controlled. It just happened. Most if not all accidents could have been avoided, but we have the fall back option of saying ‘nobody’s perfect’ and ‘we’re only human’.

When it comes to the first statement that betrays something else about us that is also ‘only human’. That is for us to mean the thoughts we have, the words we say and the actions that follow. We can act on purpose and deliberately put together a chain of events for a desired outcome. That is to say we can do certain things and mean it. It was intentional.

I was thinking recently of the things that we mean to do. Usually eating and drinking are done intentionally. We don’t often accidentally eat (whatever excuse you want to make about taking that chocolate bar when you knew you shouldn’t). Likewise when it comes to certain chores and responsibilities we carry these out deliberately. It’s not an accident paying bills. These are done with the intent fully behind it.

I even thought about family life and there’s an ethos among parents that they intend for their child to get a good education. There are steps we take in line with those intentions whether that’s the sort of school they go to and/or the support we give them to pass what we consider to be vital exams for the future.

In and amongst all these intentions where are the Kingdom intentions? Beyond some ritualistic and formulaic token gestures in attending meetings on set times, what can we point to as evidence of Kingdom intentionality. Is it as apparent that we’re looking to see our children gain as much exposure to the good news and Kingdom living as possible with the intention that one day they will be use that as the platform to discover and grow in their own faith?

Are we as intentional to highlight the gospel to friend and foe alike in the myriad creative ways at our disposal to fit whatever context we find ourselves in? Are we intentional in matters regarding making peace, spreading joy and pointing to the Giver of Life as the source of all that’s good?

If some of those issues have us honestly admitting that we’re not there as yet, this is all good, because learning about Jesus is seeing a life of Kingdom Intentionality. From His baptism, to His amazing teaching, to the people he associated with, to the miraculous signs and wonders performed then the imparting of Himself to the disciples. All this was done intentionally to show how the disciples could also follow this model. This is why we have the book of Acts recording a group of people growing in knowing Jesus and doing so with intentionality. We see the costs of that, the challenges of that, but ultimately it should challenge to consider again what level of priority do we give to living with Kingdom Intentionality.

So more important than the education for our children, than the pension plan, than the cool holiday we’ve booked months in advance. More important than this and more – what are we doing to live with Kingdom Intentionality?

Living by any alternative leads to death. Follow this leads to life. We know that Jesus means it when He offers these options.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden