Missing the Mark

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:4)

Never has that Scripture meant more to me than it does this Yom Kippur. Struggling with all the ways I missed the mark this year, I feel like I am literally clinging to the Cross. "What is the mark?" you may ask. The mark is Torah. Mistranslated as law, Torah really means "teaching and instruction" in the Hebrew. It is Yahweh's perfect instruction to His people on how to live a holy and righteous life, reaping blessings instead of curses. I shoot for the mark of Torah every day - but how often does my dart land outside the circle, or even fall to the ground?

Tonight when the sun sets, Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) begins. I have written letters to those I may have hurt or offended and asked forgiveness. I sincerely wanted to reach this day having confessed my sin to Yahweh and having done all I could to make amends with others and take an axe to the root of my own bitterness. But even with all my own efforts and good intentions, do I have clean hands and a pure heart? Am I deserving of eternal life in the glorious Kingdom of God? No.

And so here I am...on my face with my arms stretched out toward that ancient tree on which my Messiah shed His precious blood. The Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world - God's free gift of salvation to His imperfect children. Father, thank you for the Torah - the tutor that brings me to Messiah - where I am undeservedly justified by faith. If I did not have the mark to shoot for, how would I know I missed it?

Now knowing I missed it I come once again to the incredible Good News: through Yeshua I get another chance! I am justified by faith; not faith in myself, but in HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Be blessed this Yom Kippur and rejoice with me in the gift of blood sacrificed for us by our eternal High Priest.