Matt Emmons, Olympic gold medalist in rifle shooting in 2004, was set to
win another event at Athens. He had a commanding lead and hoped to make a
direct bull’s-eye on his last shot. But something went wrong—he hit the target,
but he was aiming at the wrong one! That wrong focus dropped him to eighth
place and cost him a medal.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed the importance of
focusing on the right target in our Christian life. “I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” he said (3:14).
Paul used the term “goal” in an illustration of an athlete running a
race. Interestingly, the same word was also used of a target for shooting
arrows. In both cases, the prospect of winning depends on being focused. For
the believer that focus should be a lifetime pursuit of becoming more like our
Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28-29; Gal. 5:22-23).
What is your focus today? Are you preoccupied with getting ahead and
making life more comfortable? If you’re a believer, the right target to shoot
for is to become more like the Son of God (2 Cor. 3:18).
Today make sure you are aiming at the right target!
To make the most of your life, make God’s goals your goals.(RBC)
