How do children in the Lord differ from mature Christians?
In the few times I’ve been sailing, I’ve learned a few things. A sudden lack of wind to move the boat makes for a very bad sailing day. Instead of waiting for the breeze to come, we started the motor and headed for shore. Without wind, sailboats are dead in the water.
Worse yet is the contrary wind, a force pushing you away from where you most need to be.
Make Adversity Work for You.
No sailboat can sail directly into the wind. That’s impossible. Instead, sailors follow a zigzagging path—a slow and demanding process. But when you’re facing adversity, it’s the only way to get where you want to go.
Sharing the truth with people who don’t want to listen is equally difficult, but there is a solution. It too is the only way to get there.
When the apostle Paul shared the Gospel with people in Corinth, he had to adjust the message to something they could handle, something like giving milk to a baby because they couldn’t handle solid food. Instead of speaking from his great knowledge, Paul had to respect their ignorance and misbeliefs by feeding them small bites of truth they would readily accept.
Be Ready to Make Adjustments.
The force and direction of adverse winds are constantly changing, so the sailor is forever adjusting the sails, rudder, and boat angle according to the shifting wind. If the boat points too high, the sails flap uselessly, and forward momentum is lost. Too far off the wind, the boat may gain speed but not in the right direction.
Patience and Persistence Promotes the Prize.
Waves present a significant obstacle when sailing into the wind. Unlike a downwind course where a boat can surf the waves, sailors are slammed by oncoming swells. Each impact slows the progress and can leave us soaked—dripping wet and cold. But patience and persistence get the prize.
Know that Your Effort Is Always Good Enough.
Sailing into the wind requires knowledge, patience, and adaptability. While frustrating and exhausting at times, mastering the art of sailing upwind provides a deep sense of accomplishment and is a true test of seamanship.
However, sharing the Gospel follows a different standard.
The world measures success by results. If we miss the mark, we have failed. We need to take care not to apply that standard for sharing truth with others. Why? Because God requires our effort, not results. Like the five loves and two fish that Jesus used to feed a multitude, he will take our timely words spoken in love and work miracles in people’s lives. We may never see the results, but rest assured, they will be there.
Our effort is always good enough because God will take care of the results.
We will no longer be immature children tossed about by every wind of doctrine, easily blown in different directions by deceivers who cleverly manipulate lies to look like the truth. — Ephesians 4:14 The Discussion Bible
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