The yacht’s twin motors roared to life. The food was aboard, the gear was aboard, and all hands were aboard. As the luxury craft eased away from the dock there was just one task left to complete: I had to cast off the mooring line I now held in my hand. Well, I guess I didn’t have to cast off. I could have attempted a tug-o-war with the dock and ended up in the murky waters of the marina. So when presented with the option of hanging on or releasing my grip, it was an easy choice -- I cast off!
The pursuit of the holy life Jesus calls us to will always involve a choice. Peter wants spiritual sailors everywhere to understand that we cannot hold onto the mooring line of sin if we want to sail with God. He writes:
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. Obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT)
Is there something that you need to cast off in order to pursue God? Is there an attitude, a habit, a grudge, or some secret sin that is keeping you tied to the dock? The deep blue waters of exciting times with God are calling! Cast off!
STAY FOCUSED TODAY: Keep a little piece of string on your desk to help remember that we need to cast off the mooring lines of sin that keep us from living a holy life for God. Let it go and sail with him!