Aiming For the Mark

Our children have recently began taking archery lessons. The first lesson was acquainting them with all the various parts of the Bow, and the various aspects of the Arrow. The second lesson taught them the proper way to hold the Bow, loading the Arrow, and aiming and shooting at the Mark (the target). As I watched this slow but steady progression, it reminded me of how we begin our lessons of life of being a Christian. After learning of Jesus and obeying Him in baptism, we begin our daily walk. As with archery, we will only improve our walk with practice. The more we study and apply all of God’s principles and commands in our life, we will hit the Mark (which is heaven). The Apostle Paul wrote, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14). In addition, our prayer life should also be directed toward God with the right aim. "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up" (Psalms 5:3).