Missing the Mark: Part II

1 John 1:9 (NLT) “But if we confess our sins to Him, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

Last week my post spoke about missing the mark with God. What is it in your life that distracts your view from our Savior for another target? Sin creates a barrier between us and our Holy God. We try to run our own lives, we try to wrap our identity up in other things, but they often leave us more fragmented and empty. For our God never desired to leave us spiritually distant and alone. God wishes to be restored as the central target of our heart.

So what now, what is our next step and how can we find healing? How may we be reunited with our loving God?

First, we must understand that out of passionate love for us, Jesus died on the cross, taking upon Himself all the consequences of our choice. Secondly, we must agree with our God that we require the need for forgiveness. And finally there must be a reorientation of our focus toward the correct target. Another proper word choice is repentance. As Paul declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20).

Friend, check your sights and check them again. Make sure your walk is one that honors our God for He is the only target worth pursuing.

1 John 2:1-2 (NIV) “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”