Aim For The Mark

Paul writes: ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 3:14 KJV) Paul describes the Christian as a marksman. ‘All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.’ (Philippians 3:15NIV) In Paul’s day, the mark would have been hit by an arrow, but in our day, the mark could also be hit by firing a rifle.

If you have ever fired at a target, you know this:

(1) Your aim must not be distracted. When you have the target in view, even taking a breath at the wrong moment can make you miss the mark. So what’s Paul saying? Simply this: ‘Forget what’s around you and stay focused on winning the prize.’ He is not referring to your salvation. Jesus already purchased that and gives it to you freely by grace. No, he is talking about fulfilling your God-given destiny and obtaining the reward that waits beyond it.

(2) Your bullet has to have the right amount of powder. Otherwise, it will drop off before it hits the mark. Get the idea? Your powder is your power! And where does your power come from? The Holy Spirit! Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem [at home], and in all Judea and Samaria [on the job and in your relationships], and to the end of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV)

So the word for today is—aim for the mark.