Anchors!

Whilst having lunch with another retired clergyman, and good friend, I mentioned that I love being able to preach a series.  Whether it be working thorough one of the books of the Bible, or following a particular theme, it ensures that I deal with passages, or topics, that I might otherwise avoid.

I was also attending to some "consolidation" this afternoon, as we prepare for our new home in Gardonne to be fully rewired.  I came across a small ring binder in which were the notes from messages that I have shared in the past - most of them at the 'Worship before Work' service that was held, every Monday to Friday, in St.George's-Tron Parish Church, Glasgow, when the late Rev. George B.Duncan was the minister (and I was but a lowly Divinity Student!).

One message 'jumped out at me', and I want to share it here, on my blog, as a brief series!  I read the following verses: "When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of A'dria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they sounded and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they sounded again and found fifteen fathoms. And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let out four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 'Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.' Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let it go." (Acts 27:27-32).

How many anchors have you on board your ship?  Are they strong enough for the day of storm?  Are they fit for the strain of life and death; joy and sorrow; and everything else that may happen on the seas of life?

The faith that some people claim to have is purely a "fair weather" thing - it's strong only when circumstances are favourable!  Because of that, they have constructed their lives on the assumption that they are going to meet nothing else but calm seas and favourable winds.

In that passage from the Book of Acts, we read that the sailors "... let out four anchors from the stern ...".  Over the next four posts, I plan to suggest four anchors that each of us ought to carry on the voyage of life.

Don't forget to follow the series through!