Not long ago I had the opportunity to be involved in a sanctioned shooting match at a local gun club. It was a friendly match and a lot of fun. I hit some targets, missed some targets, and hit a few “non-threat” targets that I didn’t want to shoot! Although most were better shooters than me and a few were worse, none of us were perfect shots. If any of us said we were, I John 1:8-10 would certainly apply. The word “sin” in the New Testament is translated from a word that means “to miss the mark.”
Shooting teaches us a lot about falling short of the glory of God, and it is a great example of our need to always be improving in our walk with the Lord. Just as we have a target to aim at when we shoot at the range, so the Lord Jesus Christ is our aim for life once we have been born again.
I have discovered some things in the sport of shooting that challenge me to always be improving in my walk with the Lord. Perhaps they will be a help and blessing to you as well.
- Have good vision — We must be able to see our Lord and what He requires of us (Hebrews 12:2).
- Stay focused on the target — We must stay focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and not be distracted by others (Matthew 4:19).
- Be steady — We must not be “tossed to and fro” and blown about by the winds of false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).
- Pull the trigger — We must be doers of the Word and serve God obediently (James 1:22). Talk is cheap!
- Check the target — We must examine ourselves ( II Corinthians 13:5). Did I glorify the Lord in what I did?
- Make adjustments — We must confess the failure and then correct the failure (I John 1:9).
- Fire again — We must not quit just because we missed the target (Proverbs 24:16). Keep drawing closer to the Lord.
To become a good shot requires lots of work and practice. To be what God wants us to be takes a lot of work and practice, as well. Let me encourage you to spend some time with the Lord today, set Him up as your target, and then aim for a “bull’s eye” in your Christian walk.