A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
April 20,
2021
Caution sign
at Chatham Beach
Click on photo to enlarge
"Dealing
With The Rip Currents Of Life"
Message
summary: Today when
we experience the rip currents of life, however
they may manifest themselves, let us like Peter
cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”
Listen to this message on your audio player.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
“Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
Chatham is a beautiful seaside town at the
southeast corner of Cape Cod. We visited Chatham
last Saturday and I had a reminiscing of another
visit from about 25 years ago. I was just passing
my prime and still felt rather invincible. I was a
good swimmer and had my Red Cross certified
lifeguard training. I had swam in the ocean
several times before and looked forward to
swimming in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Cod on
Lighthouse Beach.
I
don't recall seeing the caution sign (our lead
photo) or if I did see it I didn't bother to read
it. I had heard of rip currents before, which are
similar to rip tides and undertows. The first time
was as a child off the Pacific coast when we
visited California and there were warnings for
swimmers. The diagram to the left shows how they
work and why they are dangerous.
I went out in the water and after swimming for a few minutes I attempted to swim back in but experienced the rip current and just couldn't get back in. Rather I was being pushed out farther. I was scared but thankfully had the sense to do what you are supposed to do in a rip current; swim parallel to the shore till you are out of it and then the waves assist you in getting back in.
It seems to me we can have experiences in life similar to a rip current. We get in a mess and try as we might we can't get back to shore.
1) In one sense it's just part of the human condition of sin. We are all in or have been in the rip current of sin. Try as we might we can't save ourselves, only Jesus can save! As Fannie Crosby wrote in her hymn "Rescue The Perishing",
I
don't recall seeing the caution sign (our lead
photo) or if I did see it I didn't bother to read
it. I had heard of rip currents before, which are
similar to rip tides and undertows. The first time
was as a child off the Pacific coast when we
visited California and there were warnings for
swimmers. The diagram to the left shows how they
work and why they are dangerous.I went out in the water and after swimming for a few minutes I attempted to swim back in but experienced the rip current and just couldn't get back in. Rather I was being pushed out farther. I was scared but thankfully had the sense to do what you are supposed to do in a rip current; swim parallel to the shore till you are out of it and then the waves assist you in getting back in.
It seems to me we can have experiences in life similar to a rip current. We get in a mess and try as we might we can't get back to shore.
1) In one sense it's just part of the human condition of sin. We are all in or have been in the rip current of sin. Try as we might we can't save ourselves, only Jesus can save! As Fannie Crosby wrote in her hymn "Rescue The Perishing",
Jesus
is merciful, Jesus will save.
If
you have not done so already we urge you today to
cry out for Jesus to save!
"Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a
sinner and I cannot save myself from the rip
current of sin. I believe that You came to this
earth and died on the cross as a substitute for
me. I place my faith in You and what You have done
for me. I receive You into my life and choose this
day to follow and serve You. Thank You for hearing
my prayer."
2)
But in another sense we can also experience what
seems like rip currents after we are saved and
following Christ.
a. These rip currents may be strange
doctrine. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, that we
are to "all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed
back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by
the cunning and craftiness of people in their
deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14).
b. The rip currents may be those times
of trials when we just can't seem to make sense of
what's going on and it may feel that we are being
pulled farther and farther away from the safe
shore. We keep getting plastered by waves. At
times like this we need to trust and obey. Peter
experienced this:
"Peter, ever enthusiastic and impulsive,
replies, 'Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come
to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). The
Lord invites Peter to come, and the disciple steps
out of the boat. Peter walks on water toward
Jesus. His baby steps of faith last only a moment,
though, and then he takes his eyes off of the
Lord. With his physical sight, Peter sees the wind
and waves surrounding him, and “he was afraid”
(verse 30) and begins to sink. He cries out, “Lord,
save me!” (Matthew 14:30), and Jesus
instantly reaches out His hand to catch Peter." *
(from gotquestions.org)
Today
when we experience the rip currents of life,
however they may manifest themselves, let us, like
Peter, cry out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we cry out, "Lord, save me!" like Peter who
called out to Jesus when he was sinking in the
water. There are many riptides that come toward
us when we least expect it. Guidelines for
surviving a riptide require the swimmer not to
panic, to keep their feet grounded if possible,
and to call out for help from the lifeguard. We
too want to apply the same guidelines
spiritually when we are caught in the riptides
of life; to ground ourselves in Your Word which
is timeless; to trust You instead of panicking
about our dilemma, and to call on You for help
since Scripture tells us "When I am afraid I
will trust in You in God whose word I praise."
When I place my trust in You, Lord, You save me!
I'm so glad I can depend on You. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
More photos from our trip
this last weekend to Cape Cod
The
Chatham Lighthouse is across from the beach
mentioned in today's message.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
The ocean along the Cape Cod
National Seashore with the Coast Guard
station in the background.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Leaving Cape Cod we passed
this scenic pond on Rt. 6a
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
We always were fascinated
with the Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge.
At one point a railroad went through Cape
Cod all the way to the tip in
Provincetown. A portion of that rail line
is now rail trail which we had planned to
ride on. The rail line is still used from
Hyannis to the mainland across this bridge
for tourist excursions
and for the "trash train" AKA
"Energy Train".
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
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