Swim Safely

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘To be shallow is not a sign of being sinful, nor is shallowness an indication that there is no depth to your life at all— the ocean has a shore. Even the shallow things of life, such as eating and drinking, walking and talking, are ordained by God. These are all things our Lord did. He did them as the Son of God, and He said, “A disciple is not above his teacher . . .” (Matthew 10:24).’ CHAMBERS

 

Shallow …. What is Chambers talking about? He is referring to the fact that everyone has many facets to their lives … from the mundane to the deeply spiritual.  The fact is that every facet is subject to obedience to the Lord.  There is not one part of our lives that can be held back … or held on to.  When Romans 12:1 says to offer yourself as a sacrifice .. it is all of you.  When Galatians 2:20 says you are crucified with Christ … it’s every facet of your life … When Matthew 16:24 says you must deny yourself .. and follow Jesus .. it is all of you.

 

In the book of Acts, chapter 5, we are told about Ananias and Sapphira.  They sold some land and told everyone that they had given all to the Lord, but they had not … in their case there was an extreme consequence. …  in our case .. although the result might not be physical death … our relationship with the Lord is affected.  We say we are “sold out”, “all in”, “totally surrendered” .. whatever the current buzz words are … that fact is .. we are not … we just give the Lord what we don’t want to hang on to .. there are things that we think and say are “optional” for us .. but in our hearts we know that they are not …

 

Here is an example.  Read Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

 

Do you guard your mind so you consider only these things … or do you absorb the culture and what it promotes as “normal” and acceptable?  When the beaches are polluted .. it is the shallow water that people are told not to get in to.  It is through the shallow things of life that we can become spiritually polluted … It is not just the shark swimming just off of the beach that we need to worry about so much as the pollution of the world that is in the water (activities) that we immerse ourselves in every day.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)