There was a time (for all of us) when it was difficult to hold a pencil, draw a shape, or color within the lines. Like building blocks – these basic skills were foundational to acquiring more complicated abilities.
How about our lives of faith? Do we mature? Do we grow? Where at first we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – how does our Savior through the Holy Spirit lead us on a way, according to His truth, to embrace the life He has for us and all people.
St. Peter wrote: “Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, that by it you may GROW UP into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3)”
The recipients of Peter’s letter already knew Jesus as their Savior. He’s implying that as you have come to faith, you need to mature in your faith. In a sense Peter is saying, “You have learnt how to hold a pencil. Great. Now it’s time to color within the lines.”
God wants to work through you and me. God intends that we be made into a sharper or stronger tool in His hand. From what Peter tells us, to grow up into salvation as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a PEOPLE for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)”
Chances are, you may have heard the idiom: “three sheets to the wind.” What does it mean to be three sheets to the wind? Being drunk, intoxicated, inebriated.
The figure of speech is nautical in origin. The sheet, as in “three sheets to wind,” is not the sail. It’s actually a line (the rope) tied to the sail. If the three sheets (the three ropes) tied to a sail are loose or severed, the sail is flapping in the wind. The ship is at the mercy of the wind and the waves, rocking back and forth out of control. That is how the idiom describes someone who’s drunk, rocking back and forth, unable to walk a straight line.
Are we “three sheets to the wind”? Are we rocking back and forth without direction? Are we harnessing the wind of the Holy Spirit making our way to a certain destination? For sure. We are not serving God in line with our uniqueness and giftedness.
So, let’s take out the slack. Let’s skim the surface of these waters in sailing in our Savior’s direction, because He is the way, the truth, and the life. To capture the fullness, and the intent of our Savior: “Set your minds on things ABOVE, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3)”
UP to God we hear His Word of Life. UP to God we lift up words of prayer and praise. UP to God we receive wisdom and insight. UP to God we get clear to where He is leading us. UP to God we courageously chart a path in rough waters. UP to God we harness the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. All because, your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
There was that time in our lives when it was a challenge to hold a pencil and draw a line. Things can happen when that can pose a challenge again. Even right now you may feel tossed to-and-fro by storms of unrest, storms of concern, and storms of such clouded darkness you really don’t know where you are heading. But within the ship of God’s church you have been baptized into your Savior’s death and resurrection, and that water saves you. That confirms not how you hang on to Him, but how He holds on to you. And, through whatever storm – your Savior always stands at the helm. •
— By Pastor Neil Stern
Grace Lutheran, Edmonton