A Pause To Ponder God's Word
"Keep Paddling..."

One of our family's favorite vacation activities is canoeing down the Saco River in Maine. They are day trips, and even though it is one of the busiest rivers for recreational boating in the country, you still have a good bit of solitude in which to enjoy God's wonderful creation. The occasional stops for a swim, the detour up a side stream finding a pond with all sorts of fascinating wildlife, and the slow pace which allows you take it all in. The sections of the river we use are usually easy flowing, which means that you do not have to do much paddling. You do more of guiding the canoe than anything.

One trip was just after several days of rain. The river was higher than any other time we had canoed it. It was still safe, but it was running faster. The ranger told us that we would do the trip we had planned mush faster than in the past, and that we should take extra care. The river was expected to continue rising. We found the river delightful. It was moving faster, and the paddle was used more as a rudder than for paddling. Suddenly something fell off the canoe. I must admit I cannot remember what is was, I only remember that we had to paddle up river to retrieve it (it was probably my hat, and with my lack of hair, my hat is important, very important!). I called out to my wife in the front to paddle with me. We turned the canoe around and began to work our way back up the river to retrieve the item. My arms ache even remembering our attempt to accomplish this task. The river countered our every attempt to move up it. We even attempted altering paddling, for when we both raised our paddles at the same time, the canoe was pushed down stream. Soon, we turned the canoe around. The river had won. We would go the way it wanted us to.

Christians face this same struggle everyday. Christianity goes against the flow of modern day morals and culture. We stand for all that is righteous and holy, while the world flows evermore toward evil and corruption. In a world of selfishness and self-centeredness, Christians live selfless and Christ-centered. Its like paddling against the current. There are times when we feel like giving up and just "go with the flow." As tempting as it is, don't give in. Scripture admonishes us, "do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Weariness involves the Spirit, mind, and body. How do we recover from such weariness? Where do we find the stamina to continue to do good, to paddle against the current? The text helps us with these questions. First, "don't be deceived" (6:7). Don't loose sight of Jesus, the right, and the holy. Remember, those who sow "to please the sinful nature will reap destruction." Second, "sow to please the Spirit." This sowing is made possible only by the Spirit. Remember that in Christ we possess the fruit of the Spirit (5:22) which gives us all we need to continue on. Indeed, in Christ God has provided "everything we need for life and for godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). Third, keep our focus. At the proper time we will reap the harvest. Look beyond the immediate to the victory in Christ Jesus. Don't dwell on your weariness, but on His provisions. We can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Yes, we go against the flow, for we're going Christ's way. Beloved, keep paddling!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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