Thursday May 14, 2020

Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:

Matthew 13:20-21 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

The next cause for missing the target is through pressure and interference. If I pushed and jostled you while you were trying to aim, or if the wind were blowing hard around you, or something was in your way, you would have a hard time shooting accurately. We face many trials in this life and those pressures can cause us to miss our mark. Remember that when Jesus was arrested in the garden, all his disciples ran away and left Him alone. Remember that Peter, when accused, denied that he even knew Jesus. Remember that when the people made him angry, Moses disobeyed God in his frustration. Remember that in his suffering, Job’s wife told him to curse God. Remember that when Jesus’ teaching become hard to bear, many people stopped following Him all together. Remember that it was when Peter looked at the raging storm that he began to sink under the waves. We must prepare ourselves to endure the trials and pressures of this life, knowing that they will seek to keep us from drawing near to the Lord. If, however, one learns to aim well even in the midst of pressures and obstacles, they will become a most excellent archer. James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The enemy intends these pressures to cause us to fail, but God is a good teacher. Like a good teacher He makes us of such pressures to train us and perfect us. For it is only through adversity that we become stronger. If you are struggling under such pressures, remember the word of the Lord to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” Now, that is not God saying, “Suck it up and tough it out”. That is God saying, “Depend on Me and allow My strength to bring you through.” None of us are meant to face the storms of life on our own. We are meant to depend on God to bring us through them. Focus on Him, focus on the target, and you will keep on the mark.

-Jared Freeman, “Missing the Mark”