Putting Out to Sea

",and we put out to sea," Acts 27:2b

Between the commas in Acts 27:2 is nestled a sailing term that carries a lot of meaning. As you may know, I love the ocean, and all that is associated with it, including sailing. To put out to sea is to leave the harbor. To put out to sea is to commit to sailing and to get underway. Deciding to sail is important, boarding ship is necessary, but putting out to sea is actually doing something that means you are going somewhere.

We often are a lot of decisions, a lot of planning, tons of talking, but never really going anywhere. I know people who own sailboats but never put out to sea. They sit on their boats, clean their boat, have dinner on their boat, and even putt around the harbor, but never put out to sea. That is where the adventure begins, that is where the faith is exercised. It is like hitting the road in a car of taking off in airplanes. It’s different than getting gas or going to the airport. I am going to suggest that many of us don’t really go much of anywhere because we have to “put” some other things before we put out to sea.

1) We must "put" the past behind us. We unfortunately tend to "drag anchors."
2) We also must "put" it in gear. We are stuck in neutral and can’t seem to find drive.
3) Finally, we must "put" it in the Lord’s hands. He wants to be the captain of our ships. We would undoubtedly put out to sea more often if we trusted Him more.

Today I pray you will look out of the harbor and see where God might take you. Even Grace Harbor is to be a place where we prepare to put out to sea every time we set sail from here. When we were on our cruise I loved the days that we were "at sea." It reminded me that we had to leave the harbor to get where the Lord was taking us. When we leave the church we are entering His mission field.

Let us all put out to sea more often,
Pastor Fred

Tweet