The Christian life is a little more than just intentional …

We often talk about the Christian life being something we need to do with “intention” — that disciples of Jesus should be “intentional.”

True … but …

There’s something slightly missing in that.

While studying Ephesians 5, and pondering some of the Apostle Paul’s exhortations there, I think Paul adds an important layer to the concept of intention, which is that we should do the following:

Deliberate, then act intentionally.

To deliberate means to give careful consideration or forethought to something. To act intentionally is to proceed based on that forethought.

The chapter begins with this: “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ,” Ephesians 5:1-2. To “imitate God” is to be deliberate, to act intentionally; the same goes for “following the example of Christ.”

Paul expands this idea of being deliberate by exhorting us to first “deliberate”:

“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord,” Ephesians 5:10 is a clear call to deliberation.

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise,” Ephesians 5:15 instructs us to live intentionally … from the carefulness fostered from deliberation.

And then we have Ephesians 5:17, “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do,” which would certainly require deliberation so that we can act with intention.

Let’s think about this in practical terms.

Imagine this: you’re at the grocery store, facing a mountain of tempting treats. Instead of grabbing a sugary snack on autopilot, you pause to deliberately consider your goals (healthy eating!). You weigh the options, thinking about how this snack fits into your bigger picture. You even read the ingredients. Then, armed with this thoughtful consideration (deliberating), you act intentionally, choosing a healthier option that aligns with your goals.

This everyday scenario reflects Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 5. By following this pattern of deliberation and then intentional action, we can strive to live as Christ calls us to, imitating God in our everyday choices and not acting thoughtlessly. So, whether you’re facing a grocery store aisle or a more significant life decision, remember: deliberate, then act intentionally.

Scotty