A couple from Bakersfield, California purchased a new boat, but they were having
serious problems. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get the boat
going. It was sluggish no matter which way they turned or how much power was
applied. After an hour of trying to make it go, they putted to a nearby marina,
hoping someone could tell them what was wrong. A thorough check on the topside
of the boat revealed everything was in perfect working condition. The engine ran
fine, the out drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and
pitch. Then, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He
came up choking with laughter. Under the boat, still strapped securely in place,
was the trailer!
How often have we been guilty of the same thing? We sputter along in our
spiritual lives, wondering why we're not making much progress, wondering why we
don't feel any closer to God than we do. We take a spiritual check of the
situation and find that we're attending worship regularly, we're reading our
Bibles, we're praying. On the surface, everything appears to be what it ought to
be. But beneath the surface lurks some sin that we have allowed to latch hold of
our lives. And there it lies, unforgiven, maybe even unrecognized, dragging us
down.
Though the Hebrew writer used the image of a runner as opposed that that of a
boat, the concept is exactly the same: "...(L)et us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1).
If your spiritual life is sputtering along, perhaps you would do well to look
for sin that lies beneath the surface. Throw off everything that hinders you,
and you'll find that things will run a lot more smoothly.
Alan Smith
alansmith.servant@gmail.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.