“Anchors”

By Cecil May III

People drift. Like a boat that has no anchor, people are moved, sometimes imperceptibly, by currents that take them away from their intended docking place. With great joy someone is received into the love of God. (See Jude 21 as a scriptural tether for this teaching). Like that boat gently rolling on the waves of the water, so this person rolls on comings and goings of life’s circumstances. They do not realize that as they drift they fail to heed the warning to “keep yourselves in the love of God.” One day they look and instead of the familiar markings of the shoreline, they find themselves in unrecognizable territory. They ask, “when did this happen and how did I get here?”

“Keep yourselves in the love of God.”

It helps to lay down some anchors that will keep us from drifting away.

Here are some suggestions.

Spiritual Disciplines: Frequent and regular Bible study, prayer, and personal worship are good spiritual anchors. Be aware that there are two ways to use scripture as an anchor. One may read the Bible devotionally. In this kind of reading, scripture gives daily inspiration and different kind of scripture usage than meditative, devotional reading. Study has to do with gaining information that teaches and strengthens one’s faith. The regular practice of these disciplines keep us near the throne of God.

Christian Friends: As evil companions corrupt, so does companionship with the righteous keep us committed to purity. If our best friends are not interested in spiritual things, we can be sure that our own interest in spirituality will wane. Even with our Christian friends, we should make sure that some of our conversation and shared activities revolve around our shared discipleship with Jesus. The point of spending time with Christian friends is to keep us anchored to Christ. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17).

Regular Assembled Worship: Those who are abandoning the regular Christian gatherings designed to “spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24), will soon find themselves distant from love and goodness. Sundays are for anchoring.

The Promise of God: The assurance of our salvation and the future of the saved are held in trust with the God who does not lie. Jesus has risen from the dead and has entered the dwelling place of God. Jesus is the evidence of victory for the Christian. Don’t forget that, for “We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20).

Anchor in the love of God.

- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com