Scripture for Today:  I Timothy 6:20-21  “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.  Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards to the faith.  Grace be with you.”

Archery seems to be a more common pastime here in France than in California.  When our kids were growing up, archery was a part of physical education in the schools and part of camps in the summer.  A young man in our church is a serious competitor in a club just down the street.  Something that used to be essential in hunting and combat is now mainly recreational.

I am sure many things are important in this sport, but I would think the most important skill would be aim.  One could have the correct stance, the perfect positioning of the arrow, but if the aim is off, the goal is missed!  I read that there are several methods to aiming including something called, “instinctive shooting.”  Rather than using a mechanical sight attached to the bow, one relies on the subconscious mind plus motor and muscle memory.

Our verse for today is sobering.  There are those who have missed the mark when it comes to faith.  Instead of using the objective truth of God’s Word for aim, they have used their own subjective ideas.  They profess to have knowledge and spiritual illumination apart from the Scriptures.  Paul calls it, “irreverent babble and godless chatter.”  It may sound smart, but its results are disastrous!

“Faith comes by what is heard and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)  We miss the mark of faith if we aim for it through man’s ideas and knowledge.  Lord, increase my faith by keeping Your Word in my sights!