There’s nothing like the freedom of floating on the ocean. It’s beyond my ability to express the feeling of completely relaxing while the sun warms my face, and the water holds me up.
But…
Ocean water is not still. There is always movement in the ocean which means we will never stay in one place unless we do something to keep us in place. Even out in the deep, we will drift unless we attach ourselves to something immoveable.
That’s why George goes out with me as my “spotter” when I move out beyond the surf to float. Some days the ocean will pull me out until I’m way over my head. Other days it will push me back toward the shallows in the surf. Still others will pull me down the beach and into others. Hmmm…always to the east. I’ve never thought about that particular fact until just now. Anyway, you get the idea. I cannot float in place on the ocean.
I need a “spotter” when I drift into what creates danger for me or others.
George will usually give my ankle a quick tug. This causes me to look around and notice my surroundings. It reminds me to pay attention to where I am. It alerts me to my need for action.
Thinking about this reminds me of two spiritual truths:
Holy Spirit is my ever-present Helper; my “Spotter.”
Freedom doesn’t mean never having anything to do.
LORD, thank You for giving me Your freedom. Don’t let me abuse the freedom I have in You. I want to live my life resting in You but living with purpose. Holy Spirit, please don’t let me drift away from the Father’s place or purpose for me. Thank You for being my “Spotter.” Teach me to live in obedience even as I live in the freedom of being IN Christ Jesus. May His presence surround me and His face shine on me. And may others see and glorify the Father in heaven. Amen.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)