There is a saying, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." To put it another way, if you go through life without something to do, you won't do anything. Our life is full of time and effort and yet if we don't put the two together, we will accomplish nothing. The best way to accomplish something is by first knowing what it is you are trying to accomplish.
All successful businesses know this full well. They know exactly what they are trying to do and they set all their goals and activities to hit that target. But in order for them to do that, they must have customers. Businesses spend countless billions of dollars in an effort to define who their customer is and how to reach that specific customer. For instance, the famous and successful department store, Macy's, labels its target market as "working women, ages 25-54." All of their efforts are in an attempt to attract and appeal to this specific market. This market of working women, ages 25-54, is their specific customer target.
The principle of a target market is not new, however, and even Jesus used it in His ministry here on earth. Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." His ministry was specific to only Jews in Israel and He kept His work and travel to about a 25 mile radius. He had a market and He stayed focused on those efforts only. It didn't mean that other segments of the world were not important and it didn't mean that no one else should try in a different direction. It meant that His target was set to reach only one specific market. He knew that in order to accomplish what He was sent to do, He had to be specific and focused.
This translates well into our lives. Many of us do not know what we are doing and have rarely defined who it is we are trying to impact. You have been given specific skills and abilities and have been placed in a specific time in this world. All the things in your life have come together for what you are to do. Take the time to figure out who it is you should be impacting and then set a course to do just that. You are more likely to hit something if you are aiming at it. Don't be afraid to figure out who it is the Lord would like you to reach. Ask Him; I'm confident He has a specific person or persons in mind.
Only you can reach the people on your campus at your specific school. Only you can reach the employees that are directly under your management. Only you can reach your close family members. If we all had a target, maybe we would hit it more often. I have a target market, do you?
1. Have you ever identified who it is the Lord would have you impact?
2. Take the time to write it down and ask Him how to reach them.
3. What course of action should you take in reaching them?
Additional Scriptures for Study: Matt 10:6, 1Cor 9:26, 1 Cor 16:9
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