Craig Clouston

Aim High!

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Matthew 14:17

Jack and Willow had given Sam an archery kit for his birthday. Sam, with the enthusiasm of a ten-year-old, squealed with delight and ran out the back door proclaiming how many deer and wild Indians he was going to kill. When Jack had offered to help set up the target, Sam had declined the assistance, assuring his father he could manage on his own. After all, he was ten now!

Jack patiently watched as Sam loosed arrow after arrow, each falling short of its intended mark.

Finally, Sam said, “I guess I could use some help, Pop,”

Wisely, Jack asked, “What are you aiming at, Chief?”

Sam cocked his head as he pondered the question, “I guess I was just pulling the string back and shooting toward the target.”

Instructing Sam in how to ‘line-sight’ the arrow shaft, Jack taught Sam the basics of shooting instinctively, always aiming higher than where he intended to the arrow to hit.

Within ten minutes Sam was not only hitting the target from a distance of fifteen yards, he actually hit the bull’s-eye a few times!

†

Too many of us aim at nothing and hit it every time. In today’s text, the Disciple’s estimation of achieving the goal was based in the possible; what they could do. They had not considered the power of God to achieve the impossible. And because of that they missed the mark.

We are much like Sam and the Disciples. We don’t aim high enough and, as a result, fall short of the intended target most of the time.

Believe it or not, some of us are afraid we just might hit what we’re aiming at and wouldn’t know what to do with the success. Others are comfortable right where they are and want no part of extending themselves…and receive the full measure of their efforts.

Next you take aim, aim high. Even if you don’t hit the bull’s-eye you’ll still be closer to the mark than when aiming at nothing.

Prayer

“God of the impossible, show me how to aim for things beyond my ability. Teach me to stretch my faith as a bow’s string is stretched in preparation for the shot. Help me hit the mark You give me to shoot at today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”