When I was working for the University, about twenty-five or twenty-six years ago, I worked with a lady that had previously been part of the Polish Olympic archery team. (I will call her Beth here in the blog, although that was not her name.) Beth actually competed in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. She definitely knew something about hitting the bull’s-eye, about hitting the mark.
At the time I was working there, I only had partial vision loss in my right eye. My left eye was still healthy. Beth gave archery lessons in her backyard. She was actually training some Olympic hopefuls. She would sometimes have us over for lunch. She would give us mini lessons and we would get to play archer for a little bit. It was really fun and is actually quite addictive.
Since I am right handed, and it was the vision in my right eye that was damaged, I had a more difficult time lining up the arrow to shoot. I would use the site, but I also knew that I had to move my shot a little farther right than what it looked like through the site because of the damage in my right eye. Hummm…or was that a little to the left? I can’t remember. I had the right eye lined up, but was actually looking through the left eye. Either way, I felt very accomplished when I got close to the mark, although I don’t know that I ever actually hit the mark.
In Romans 3:23-24, Paul talks about missing the mark that God has set for all mankind. He explained that all people have sinned. All have missed the mark that allows us to have fellowship with a glorious, holy God.
He went on to encourage them with the good news that through God’s grace, His free gift, mankind can be acquitted. They can be redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
God made a way through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for all of mankind’s sin to be redeemed, wiped out, paid in full. All they have to do is accept this free gift that He is offering and follow Christ.
What is the challenge that these two verses present? The challenge, in general, for all mankind is to recognize that we are all sinners and we all need God’s redeeming grace through Jesus Christ.
How can these verses be applied to our lives? We all need this free gift, through the grace of God, to be justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Applying this to our lives would mean that we accept our sin condition, realize that we have missed the mark, and turn to Christ as the redemption for our sins.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthen daily as I realize that Christ paid the price for my sin, and I have accepted the free gift that God gave me. This allows me to be a part of the family of God, and to realize that even though I am a sinner, Christ paid the cost for all of my sin.
Lord, I am so humbled when I realize that You gave Your Son to pay the price for my sin, to redeem me so that I can spend eternity with You. My prayer is that I can hit the mark more frequently as I get closer to home, and that I will live my life so that it is an arrow that points people toward You and Your grace.
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“23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:23-24 (KJV)
“20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV)
“8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (KJV)
“11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV)
“11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about making your decision for Jesus Christ: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Blog Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 