Everyone has an agenda. You do. I do. Ultimately God does. Simply put, an agenda is a plan of things to be done or problems to be addressed. More to the point, it infers underlying intentions or motives. We all have them, even if we don’t recognize or acknowledge them ourselves. The Bible teaches that God knows “the thoughts and intentions of every person.” (Revelation 2:23) The gospels record many times when Jesus responded to people’s thoughts.
“Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?”
Matthew 9:4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.9.4.NLT
I struggle with an overactive imagination, particularly in situations involving conflict, actual or perceived. The problem is that I don’t know what someone else is thinking, but I can imagine many possibilities. I’m uncertain about how to respond and I feel sure I’m not the only one who struggles with mental paralysis from overthinking.
Jesus set an example for me to follow in many situations involving conflicting agendas. He walked perfectly according to God’s will so He was often at odds with the religious leaders of His day. He boldly confronted arrogance and gently addressed sin with an authority that surprised everyone.
“Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.
Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely.
If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”
Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
But they wouldn’t answer him.
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts.
Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”
So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!”
Mark 3:1-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.3.1-5.NLT
Jesus could have drawn the man aside, spoken from a distance, or waited until another time to perform this miraculous healing. He healed a centurion’s servant from miles away yet He allowed His friend, Lazarus, to spend four days in the tomb before calling him out. On this day, He noticed a man with a deformed hand but He also saw the thoughts and sideways glances of His enemies.
God made this same point with the prophet Samuel whom He sent to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse without naming the man He had chosen. Samuel judges each successive son as worthy yet God dismisses every last one saying, “People judge by outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) God always sees what I cannot and His judgements are perfect.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
Ephesians 1:4-5, 9-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.4-11.NLT
Even those closest to us with whom we share our plans may approach the very same things differently. Differences of opinion can quickly become points of contention when I attempt to force my agenda. My knowledge, even with good intention, imposed on the will of another creates division. The apostle Paul describes his personal struggle with self will this way:
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”
Romans 7:15, 19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.7.15-19.NLT
Left unchecked, we only make things worse for ourselves. No matter how well-informed our opinions are they remain merely opinions. If I decide I know exactly what needs to be done, I can make it my goal to force my agenda on everyone else, or I can choose to live my life in a way that confirms what I believe. Forcing my agenda is divisive. Leading by example is Christlike.
Jesus knew the thoughts of His disciples, knowing who would betray Him to death, yet on their final evening while sharing a meal together, Jesus revealed that one of them would betray Him. “Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22) Judas knew and Jesus knew. Until after it happened, no one else even guessed.
I will never know the thoughts of another person, but God’s Word tells me I have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16)
“No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 2:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.2.11.NLT
“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning:
Don’t think you are better than you really are.
Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Live in harmony with each other.
Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.
And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil.
Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:3, 16-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.3-18.NLT
Christ is my example. His plan is perfect and it will not be thwarted.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
A Fitting Reply 
Love love love this! Needed to hear this today. Thank you!
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