“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2. Cor. 5:9 ESV).
What really got me thinking about how we use these words were the two translations that said, “We try our best.” Because what Paul says he is “trying his best” to do is to please Jesus. And the reason is that we are all going to appear before his judgment seat to receive what is our due for what we have done.
I’m afraid we have become quite glib about tossing about the phrase, “I tried my best.” It has a feeling of finality about it. Well, I tried. It didn’t work out. I guess I don’t need to do that again. I’m certain that is not what Paul meant!
I’ve been thinking about this verse this way: I make it my ambition to please him. An ambition is an eager or strong desire to achieve something. A strong desire to achieve something doesn’t allow me to give it a try and give up if it doesn’t work out.