Encouragement

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MISSING THE MARK

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

The term “sin” is from an ancient archery term, meaning to miss the mark, or the intended target….

The Biblical terms translated from New Testament Greek (αμαρτία - amartia) and from Hebrew as "sin" or "syn" originate in archery and literally refer to missing the "gold" at the centre of a target, but hitting the target, i.e. error.[12] (Archers call not hitting the target at all a "miss".)

So when we sin, the arrow of our intent falls short of the goal set before us. Are we therefore sinners? In the truest sense, yes – and in the practical sense – it is a question of perpetuality – the mark (the target to be achieved) is continual, so we are to continually aim at and hit the target. It is not a one-time-and-then-I-give-up type of venture. It is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle of practice, honing in our skills, trying and retrying as we press on to the upward calling.

We are to become Archers for Christ in our lives – not shooting others with the arrows, but perfecting our own skills of hearing and obeying the voice of God.

We are to daily ask the Lord to define the goals set before us. There may be times that you are asking Him hourly, but it is an ongoing relationship, and flourishes on good communication in order to develop skills of the Archer.

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