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“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
When we arise each morning and the good Lord grants us another day here on this earth, what is our rhythm before we propel ourselves into the dawn of a new day? If you are like me, it often begins with the instant temptation to hit that snooze button — to linger just a few moments more. Perhaps we immediately move to grab our devices, wondering what the world has to offer on another new day. It seems so easy and convenient to stay in our own rhythms and routines, but the longer we stay there, the harder it can be to seek God in new ways — all in an instant of waking and before our feet hit the floor. Do we potentially miss the mark before our day even begins?
In the Hebrew Old Testament, the word most commonly used for sin and that we customarily translate as “sin” in our Bibles is hatta'h, which literally means “to miss the mark.” We see countless examples throughout the Old and New Testaments where God’s people do not deliberately aim in the wrong direction and have generally aimed in the right direction, only to then miss the target. That lasting impact can affect generations to come (Genesis 3:1–6, 2 Samuel 24:1–18, Luke 9:59–62, Luke 10:38–42). More than just history or ancient narratives, we understand how these passages inform our lives today (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Our own choices can mirror those moments when we hear God’s voice but think, “Eh, maybe later.”
Instead, do we aim to search for God and trust His will for us each and every morning, seeking first His guidance, protection, correction, and forgiveness? Do we surrender to Him so He can show us the way to go, entrusting our days to Him and aligning our will with His? (Psalm 143:8). Do we tell Him what we need and thank Him for all He has done to grant us another opportunity to live and to love? (Philippians 4:6)
Thanks be to God for the Good News — we do not need to despair, and it is never too late! Christ came to give us life. He gave us a way that we are to follow, to be more and more like Him, leading us to eternity. Although we will often stumble, and our disobedience can trigger a series of consequences, God will always make good for us who love Him (Romans 8:28) as we recognize our mistakes and earnestly seek forgiveness, where we will find growth and grace. May we be reminded that His mercies are new every single day.
Through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, let us make a conscious, purposeful effort to consistently and deliberately listen to God’s calling for our lives. By first spending time with Him in His Word and sacraments, we establish a consistent rhythm in our days, ensuring nothing obstructs the full flow of His purpose for us. As we arise each morning, we must continually die to ourselves and to our flesh, actively pursuing a path of righteousness and obedience in those small daily choices and habits so that we do not miss His call completely and risk drifting and missing the mark.
We must turn from our sin to redemption, always aiming toward our salvation: bullseye!
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