2 Timothy 2:3 – Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:14 – I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes the Christian life is filled with obstacles that hinder our walk.  They slow us down or they mess up our aim.  A sniper is a specialized marksmen that is trained to take difficult and long shots with his weapon.  He needs lots of training and specialized equipment to be able to hit his mark consistently.  Anybody can probably hit a mark once in a while but being good means being consistent or hitting the mark more than one out of ten times.  A true marksmen always wants to be better. He wants his shot placement or group size to be smaller.  He wants to be able to shoot at longer and longer ranges. A sniper is willing to take the time and effort to slowly and quietly get into the right position to take a shot without being noticed.  The only prize a good sniper might get is the satisfaction of a job well done and a medal of commendation down the road.

The apostle Paul said he was pressing toward a mark.  His mark, or what he was aiming at, was Jesus Christ.  We need to keep our eye on the target of Jesus Christ.  We need to do whatever it takes to hit that mark.  We need to be patient as we seek the the Lord.  Just like the sniper it takes time to get into the right position to take a shot.  We need to take time to be holy in prayer, devotions, and Bible reading as we quietly seek the Lord.  A sniper wants to go about unnoticed.  A true Christian is humble and does not want to draw attention to himself.  He wants to draw attention to the Lord.  The Lord is the bullet that hits the mark, not us.  the bullet is what does the job, not the sniper in the end.  Finally, our prize as a Christian is far beyond any reward this world can offer.  For us it is the prize of the high calling of being in Jesus Christ’s Army as a soldier of the Lord.  I want that incorruptible crown that does not fade or tarnish like a Medal of Honor or some worldly fame.  What about you?