Straight shootin'

[toad]

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when adults are afraid of the light.” PLATO

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NLT)

It is said that the apostle John died of natural causes at the age of 100. He was the only one of the twelve disciples that died naturally, and the only one that live to a ripe old age. He wrote his account of the life and ministry of Jesus around the year 90 A.D., which was some sixty years after the fact. John had lots of time to reflect on his walk with his beloved friend and Savior. I think that is why the Book of John in some ways has a more direct approach to the life of Jesus. The genealogies that go on and on in the other gospel accounts are not found in John. John puts both feet right in the middle of the Saviors life. What drew me to look closer at the scripture verse from the Book of John was the word, “sin.” The Greek word that John used is “hamartia,” and it come from the root word “hamartano” which has a meaning of missing the mark, and to not share in the prize. John uses a word for sin that refers to someone shooting at a target and missing. When I think of the word sin I don’t particularly think of missing a target. I more or less think of not having a target at all, and just wildly shooting. That’s exactly the way my life was before Jesus. I was like a top that has been spun; you don’t know where it’s going. It might just sit there and spin, or it may wildly go wherever it pleases. I had no target and the direction I was shooting was not safe for myself, and the others who were around me. When Jesus came into my life I realized that I needed direction, and the Word of God gave me some boundaries. I became an arrow on the archery range of my life. The target was built out of love held in place on a frame of forgiveness, with the bull’s eye being eternal life. The bull’s eye is centered in other circles, circles of service, sanctification, holiness, and righteousness. I am so grateful for the grace of God, which does not just give me one and only one shot. When I miss the mark, I may try again. The only failure is to quit and give up. With each try my aim gets better. With each try God helps me adjust my speed, my strength, and my elevation. I am not an expert. I can claim spiritual progress not spiritual perfection. I know that if I don’t give up, my final shot will hit the bull’s eye. This I know! God will help me make the last shot, because God will do for me what I could not do for myself…………………….JRE

“The Greek word harmartia, missing the mark; always in a moral sense, a sin, whether by omission or commission, in thought, word, or deed. Christ came to teach men how to shoot straight, to hit the moral bull’s eye every time.”
FINNIS JENNINGS DAKE

“Be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.”
1 PETER 5:6-7 THE MESSAGE

[best]

When I was in archery and just learning how to target shoot, I was aiming at the whole target (2 foot across) I wanted to hit the center but my focus was on the whole target. A guy comes along that has been in contests for a few years and he hits 300s all the time. He pointed out something that Johns book also points out... tighten the focus. Don't aim for a broad target, aim for where you want the arrow to hit. An arrow tip is 1/4-3/8 in size. Aim at a spot 1/8 and put the tip right on the mark. If I miss the mark by one inch, I am still in the circle. If I aim at the whole target and miss by one inch, I am off the paper and score no points at all.
I find that John gives us such tight requirements of what a Christian is and how we should be acting. No room for error is found in John's gospel. John's gospel calls us to be set apart and always hitting the mark every time.

When I asked the man who hits the 300s how he does it when I was only hitting 265 as my best, he said...tighten the focus and practice. Visualize where I want the arrow to go and follow through with my intent. Keep doing as I am doing and with the tighter focus, I would also be able to reach the 300 as well.

So when we focus and live it (practice what we preach) we get closer and closer to hitting the mark...Everey time.

[toad]

Originally Posted by best

When I was in archery and just learning how to target shoot, I was aiming at the whole target (2 foot across) I wanted to hit the center but my focus was on the whole target. A guy comes along that has been in contests for a few years and he hits 300s all the time. He pointed out something that Johns book also points out... tighten the focus. Don't aim for a broad target, aim for where you want the arrow to hit. An arrow tip is 1/4-3/8 in size. Aim at a spot 1/8 and put the tip right on the mark. If I miss the mark by one inch, I am still in the circle. If I aim at the whole target and miss by one inch, I am off the paper and score no points at all.
I find that John gives us such tight requirements of what a Christian is and how we should be acting. No room for error is found in John's gospel. John's gospel calls us to be set apart and always hitting the mark every time.

When I asked the man who hits the 300s how he does it when I was only hitting 265 as my best, he said...tighten the focus and practice. Visualize where I want the arrow to go and follow through with my intent. Keep doing as I am doing and with the tighter focus, I would also be able to reach the 300 as well.

So when we focus and live it (practice what we preach) we get closer and closer to hitting the mark...Everey time.

Thank you Best for shinning the Light on hitting the mark......focus, I will take that word with me today..........toad

P.S. Your message will preach!

[cmc]

There is a seen in The Patriot where Mel Gibson's character tells his sons "Aim small, miss small" What a good principle!
I am going to try to incorporate this into my life more.
thanks!