"what Is My Target For Life And How Do I Aim For It?" Proverbs 3:5-6

Stand with me now, hold up your Bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

Sermon: "What Is My Target for Life and How Do I Aim for It?"

Opening Scripture:

Open your Bibles to Proverbs 3:5-6 and say, "Amen" when you are there.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Introduction:

Good morning, beloved! Today, we are going to answer a question that is both deeply personal and profoundly impactful: What is my target for life, and how do I aim for it?

In a world where we are bombarded by endless messages about what success looks like—be it fame, fortune, or recognition—it’s easy to get lost, unsure of where to direct our lives. Maybe you’ve felt this pull toward temporary things, only to find that they leave you empty. Perhaps you've tried to hit a target that the world offers, only to discover that it’s a moving goalpost. But I am here to tell you: there is a better target. There is a life that is richer, fuller, and eternal.

And that target is Christlikeness—to live as Jesus lived, to love as He loved, to serve as He served.

So, together, let's explore this question: What is my target for life, and how do I aim for it?

1. Understanding Our Ultimate Target:

To begin, we need to understand clearly what the target is. Our target is not success as the world defines it. It's not wealth, comfort, or recognition. Our ultimate target is Christlikeness. Every believer is called to be conformed to the image of Christ, to reflect His love, His grace, His holiness, and His purpose in the world.

Matthew 6:33 exhorts us, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Philippians 3:14 declares, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

This is not just a vague aspiration; it’s a lifelong pursuit. Christlikeness is the target, and everything else flows from it. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus—to pursue His character above all else, to model our lives on His example.

When we aim for Christlikeness, we align our lives with His purpose. It’s not about what we achieve in the world’s eyes; it’s about becoming who He has called us to be—an expression of His love and truth in the world.

2. How to Aim Toward That Target:

Now, the question becomes: How do we aim for Christlikeness?

What does it look like to stay on track and consistently move toward this high calling?

Let me offer three principles to guide us as we seek to aim our lives toward the target of Christ.

A. Fix Your Eyes on Jesus:

The first key is simple but powerful: fix your eyes on Jesus. In the same way that an athlete must focus on the finish line, we must fix our gaze on Jesus—the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Without Him, we cannot reach the target.

Hebrews 12:2 calls us to, "Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Jesus is the perfect model of love, humility, sacrifice, and holiness. The more we look to Him, the more we are transformed into His likeness.

Our focus is so crucial in this life. The distractions are many, the temptations real, and the noise overwhelming.

But when we intentionally turn our eyes to Jesus—through prayer, reading His Word, and meditating on His life—we are filled with His Spirit and power. We begin to see the world, ourselves, and others through His eyes.

B. Live with Purpose and Discipline:

To hit a target, we need more than just good intentions. We need discipline. As Paul reminds us, the Christian life is a race—a race that requires focused effort and intentional steps.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 teaches us, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?

Run in such a way as to get the prize." We are to live with purpose, not wandering aimlessly but training ourselves in godliness and holiness.

Living with purpose means making decisions each day that align with the will of God. It means saying "no" to distractions that lead us away from our calling and saying "yes" to the things that bring us closer to Jesus. It means choosing righteousness, even when it’s difficult, choosing to love when it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to forgive when it’s painful.