05 September 2007 Devotion for Today “Locus Pocus” Philippians 2:12-13
The other day I tried to take the Visitation out for a short cruise on the river and then get back in time for lunch. I hoisted the sails and got everything ready- something that takes about an hour before I am ready to launch the boat. I started up the “kicker” motor, a 3 ½ HP Suzuki. She purred perfectly as I prepared to get underway. I had an easterly breeze going at about 8 knots, which meant that the wind was blowing me inshore, and that I would have to fight the wind a little to get down the creek and out into the Pasquotank. I revved up the motor and launched myself, but the next thing I knew, I was being blown inshore by a gust. The motor was running, bubbling, revving just as fast as she would go. The only problem, the motor was not pushing the boat at all. I had no power and was defenseless now against the gust blowing me to the shoreline. I tried my best to steer out of it with the rudder, but at this point the wind currents were taking over. Thankfully, I thought, if I was going to have a problem, this is where I would want to end up- on a familiar shoreline belonging to the dock where I had set out. But I had to get into my swimsuit and wade back to the dock, pulling on the Visitation to tie up again. Since I was already in the water, I decided to wade back around to where the motor was. Perhaps I sheered a pin, I thought as I made my way around. I am always doing that. Imagine my surprise, however, when I inspected the lower unit of the motor and discovering that there was no propeller! I thought for a moment I might have sheered it off by hitting a piling on the dock, but I was very careful not to do that. Upon closer examination, I found that someone had come sometime during the week and had stolen the prop right off the motor!
With no propulsion system, I was not just dead in the water, I was out of control. It could have ended up a lot worse- it could have ended in disaster. How often does this happen to us? Now a question- Are you controlled from the inside or from the outside? People of faith will naturally say “outside” when they think of Jesus Christ. However, He is supposed to be living within our heart and in control of our heart. All too often, it seems, many people, including many Christians, allow elements outside their lives (children, family, relationships, jobs, circumstances) control them and/or their decision making. Like the motor I was telling you about, many times we tend to rely on that outside “prop” for so long, we take it for granted that it is there- dictating to us, urging us, pressuring us, pushing or otherwise propelling us onward so often that we seldom look within our own resources of personality and faith to take control instead. Sooner or later, however, our “locus of control” that circle we allow or have allowed to control us, goes out of control if it is directed from the outside. Circumstances beyond our control take us off course. Children dictate to parents what they want to do rather than parents guiding them where they need to be. Jobs demanding and squeezing every precious drop of strength and time from us we don’t have time, or have the energy, to recharge our spiritual batteries, etc. The outside factors will cause us to drift from one aimless destination to another. The desire to please others, for example, is an outward focus of control. We never know when we’ve done it and we never know where we are going to end up. When that which we have allowed to control us for so long is gone, we are utterly defenseless against the changing winds and tides unless of course we are more skilful to take back control from these outside influences.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12-13 “To work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Working out your own salvation does not mean “to work in order to be saved.” It simply means to take responsibility and personal ownership for your life and who is controlling it. Christ did not call us to depend upon circumstances or allow other people to direct out lives or to please them. If Christ is within our locus of control, He is directing us internally to please Him. When we do that, we know where we are going and are safe and secure within Christ.
I learned a very important lesson this week not only for sailing, but also for life. Before I put out to sea, I need to see that all of my propulsion systems to get me to and from my destination are there, or else I am going to end up in trouble. Before you set out today, ask yourself, who is guiding that locus, or center of control in your life?
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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