In our modern ships the First Mate reports directly to the captain and manages the deck crew. Ultimately, he or she is responsible for most everything that has to do with cargo storage and how low the ship sits in the water. The First Mate has to mathematically calculate all kinds of data to get the right information. This information is necessary to keep the ship balanced and to know just how deep or shallow any harbor may be where the ship will be in port. The ship needs to be sitting high enough to see the line painted around the ship that shows how low, or high, it can sit and still be safe – the load line.
Do you ever feel like your life is all out of balance? Well, if so, you don’t need to do any recalculations; our First Mate has already done that. We probably don't need to rearrange the load on our life, things probably just need to be thrown overboard. Here are some instructions from our First Mate.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you, (Matthew 6:33).”
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth….but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, (Matthew 6:19-21).”
Now that will balance the load.
Do you ever feel like you're riding so low in the water that you’re about to run aground where you are? Sometimes life can just drag us down. When a ship runs aground it becomes useless. The same can be said of life. Let's make sure we are riding high in the water. Our First Mate has made His calculations and here is what He recommends:
Cast all of your cares on Him, for He cares for you,
(I Peter 5:7).”
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles, (Hebrews 12:1).”
We will not ever be given more than we can handle so we ride above the load line and are safe.
With our load balanced and riding high in the water, we can safely make it to any port the Captain desires. Let's get underway.
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