The Captain of My Life
This is an audio recording of The Captain of My Life the Day 10 entry in Today for Seafarers (Vol. 1) devotional by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Sheila Margerrison or read the text below:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not
break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your
whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy,
your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within
you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and
love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and money.””
Ships are designed to have only one captain. It is impossible for the crew to do their job, and for the ship to be guided in the right direction, if there is more than one person trying to captain the ship. Someone needs to make that final decision about where to go and what to do. That is the role of the captain.
This is also true in everyday life. Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters.” Yet we often think we can. We think we can give ourselves to the world and also be attached to Jesus Christ. But that is impossible. The world wants to steer us in one direction; Jesus pulls us in the other.
The difference is not just that they both can be captains of our lives. It is that the world points us toward shipwreck, and Jesus guides us to safety. We might not see it, but it is the truth; Jesus tells us so. This is one of the big problems of life—we think we can make our own way without the help of God. Yet we don’t have the plan, and we can’t read the map.
Only God can direct us in the right way. He does this in the Bible, especially as we learn about it with other Christians in worship and study times.
For Further Thought
Who is the captain of your life?
If Jesus is your captain, why is it important to have contact with other Christians? I
f Jesus is not leading your life, where are you heading?
Prayer
Dear Lord, you are the captain of my life. Thank you for guiding me to safety. Help me to depend on you and be faithful in your service. Forgive me for the times when I have followed after the things of this world, which lead toward destruction. In your name, Amen.
