I love to read. Nowadays when I read I try to read with a purpose in mind. I am keen to gather information, understanding and knowledge that will position me to help others. I try to think carefully about what I read, even with fiction. A while back I read “The Sea-wolf” by Jack London. I recommend it. So if you are thinking you may read it, then this is a spoiler alert!
The main character Humphrey is a domesticated, soft young man, he falls overboard in the bay, from a party ship and is picked up by a boat going out to hunt seals [it’s set in the 1800s]. The ensuing story is one where he has to leave his soft ways behind, physically, mentally and emotionally. And as we watch on with pleasure [partly because it’s not us going through the experiences), he becomes a “man’s man”, mastering the demanding needs of working as part of the crew on an 18th Century wooden hunting boat.
The ship rescues a small group from another wreck off the coast of Japan, among them is a young lady, who immediately connects with Humphry.
They then hit a big storm and are wrecked, many of the crew die or abandon the ship in the lifeboats. Only the Captain,[Wolf Larsen] Humphrey, and Miss Brewster are left. The Captain has shown himself to be very intelligent and very cruel and unpredictable during the voyage. He now seems to be suffering from a serious illness and stays in his cabin in the wrecked ship. Humphry sets out to repair the ship, using all he has learned on the voyage and the strength he has gained in service, with the help of Miss Brewster [who has significant empathy – just one look at a person and she knows what they are feeling].
They get to the brink of having the ship ready to sail when the Captain (Wolf) comes out of his cabin and blindly destroys the work overnight. Humphrey and Miss Brewster are devastated in the morning and start all over again, locking the captain in his cabin this time, where he later dies from the illness.
They get the rudely repaired mainmast positioned with a series of knots, levers and pulleys, working day and night to get everything in place. They have one more thing to do and the mainmast should slip back into its saddle below deck and be ready for the sails. They make the adjustment and happily the mainmast slips into position and hope is restored.
The line that caught my attention at this point in the story was, “all the work was in the preparation, and all the wonder was in the completion”.
Even although Jack London saw Christ as a great man and not as the Son of God, I still sense an element of a parable in his story of The Sea Wolf.
When we go through seasons of trial, of hardships never endured before, of the unexplainable, of injustice and inequality, is God not in it? Is God not fashioning us into vessels fit for use, no longer soft, no longer ill-equipped for the riggers of the real Christian life. The very hardships we are going through will be part of the salvation story for others who are not able, not in position, and not aware. God has a plan – just because he does not sit down with us and explain it, it does not mean we cannot trust him. We can.
KNOWLEDGE
There is a first step that anyone, in fact, everyone can take. In some ways, the first step is so critical, as that sets the direction for the following steps, literal and figurative. We decide what we read and what we don’t read, we decide what we watch on TV and what we don’t watch, we decide what friends we hang out with and which people we avoid, we decide what we eat and what we don’t eat. So many decisions each day that either lends themselves to this proverb or directly move away from this proverb. So much can hang on our small decisions.
We have a thought, we take a step, we create a pathway, we develop a habit, we form our character.
The writer has counsel for us – don’t consider the price, don’t think about the difficulty, don’t worry about what others are doing, rather become single-minded in this – bring every decision under the authority of the Holy Spirit. Every beginning has an outcome, every first step leads to a destiny, every choice has its fruit. So with everything that’s in you, with the help of the Holy Spirit make the best choices each day – to love God, serve others and enjoy the journey.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
“whatever” is an interesting word here. In the Hebrew language, it is pronounced as “qinyan” and is found 11 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV it is translated into English as, possession; property; substance; creatures; whatever; and, goods. Here in our verse, it covers the idea of whatever we are aiming to possess, property, goods, possessions, nothing should make such demands on us as the desire for insight.
WISDOM: what choices would you like the Holy Spirit to lead you with today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Positivity helps others see past the problems to the possibilities. Stay grounded with the facts as you activate your faith.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [the very first step of shrewdness in life for you to take is to acquire a moral purity that accompanies you everywhere. Everything you are aiming to achieve and acquire should be based on understanding, discernment and good sense that responds to God’s leading.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me afresh today to come into your presence humbly, recognising who you are and who I am, grateful for all you have completed. Thank you.
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
Ha Ps Allan ; thx u for God words; recognition for myself who I was; now who I am ; is only say thx God For amazing father for who is HIM.
Thx u
God bless
Wow… such powerful insights Allan. Every day we have endless choices to make, and if we choose to listen and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit, those choices will undoubtedly not only lead us closer to the purpose and plan God has for us…. but will also profoundly affect those around us .
Ultimately, seeking wisdom is the first and most important step we must take when faced with life’s choices.
The very hardships we are going through will be part of the salvation story for others who are not able, not positioned, and not aware. God has a plan – just because he does not sit down with us and explain it, it does not mean we cannot trust him. We can.
The above statement is what I will be pondering on today….our present hardships will be part of the salvation story for others. …God has a plan.
We are not islands, God has designed us to live our lives to touch and influence others for His glory.
When life’s journey hits difficult stormy times it can be a real challenge to frame our experiences in this context.
Thank you Pastor Allan for pointing this out.
Thank you Ps Allan.
This really encouraged me and remained me this morning that our very own hardships we are going through will be part of the salvation story for others.
Amen God has a plan and all we need to do is to trust him.
I love your strength thought.
So encouraged!
Thanks Pastor Allan for today’s words of wisdom. A reminder that God’s plans are not my plans. Just because I don’t see Him by my side doesn’t mean He’s not there with me. I like that.
“We have a thought, we take a step, we create a pathway, we develop a habit, we form our character.”
So well put into words the process in which forms our character. Thank you pastor Allan, it’s amazing !
Therefore every thought has a choice to make the next step,and every step has a desition to follow a pathway which will eventually lead to a habit.and finally our character. The person we each become.
These words will rest with me .
Thank you pastor Allan .
Thank you Pastor Allan!
Wisdom is essential to develop successfully in my Christian walk & is not simply what I know but rather how I live. It takes effort but through gaining wisdom I gain discernment & understanding to make good life choices. Often I have found my own natural thinking & reasoning is contrary to what God is showing me as I wait on Him & trust Him to lead me. I believe if I have a right heart attitude seek the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom & have faith to see a good outcome in my individual decisions & circumstances God will be glorified in my testimony to be used to help others & further increase my insight knowledge & understanding into how good my Father God is. He promises me if I ask for wisdom He will freely give it to me generously without finding fault so it is in my interests to ask!!! Wisdom is a never ending journey but so worth the rewards.
Amen! Thank you Ps Allan.
I love that every beginning has an outcome, every first step leads to a destiny, every choice has its fruit – so with everything that is in me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can make good/ best choices each day – to love God, love people, serve God and enjoy the journey.
God has got good plans for each one us.
Love this! Thank you Ps Allan.
God has a plan – just because he does not sit down with us and explain it, it does not mean we cannot trust him. We can.
Yes – so good! His plans are for good and we can always, no matter what, trust in Him. He is a good Father.
Thank you for this encouragment.
A really great word Allan Thank you
The story’s message of growth and maturity for that young man is because of his hardship on the boat. That season in his life demanded he grow, change , learn, mature and realise his true potential in life . That experience gave him the adventures of a lifetime because it truely changed his life forever.
So I especially loved the summary of the writers counsel for us that you wrote.
Definitely a reminding that
With wisdom comes understanding- not the other way around (As the world would perhaps see it )
Thank you Heavenly Father for wisdom and the Holy Spirit to lead me each day
“Bring every decision under the authority of the Holy Spirit” … great insights on this verse Allan, it definitely has got me thinking about re-evaluating my life choices each day.
Thankyou !
Praise God, the Lord makes something beautiful out of whatever may seem insignificant by His wisdom and guidance!
The story of Humphrey who rose up to the occasion and was able to endure the jeorney …
In my life I have been put through circumstances that beyond my ability, Holy Spirit took control and brought me through them!
I have been so naive and unsure how to even ask in prayer, I experienced that the Lord leading me through the seasons by His Grace!( even now!)
I say Amen to your prayer!
Knowing the greatness of Holy God , the more I know Him the more understanding of His ways I will seek out!
Thank you.
Thanks Allan – as always such a good and encouraging read with an even better challenged … meditating on your words “ Every beginning has an outcome, every first step leads to a destiny, every choice has its fruit”
Pastor Alan, believe certain things that I have been through (that firery furnish) was God preparing me for what was about to come (for many many years) that I could not see, and I love your saying, “ when we go through seasons of hardships, never endured before, is not God there? Is god not fashioned us into a vessel fit to use ? , so good pastor Alan, through that difficult season I knew he was there by my side directing my path and teaching my wisdom at the same time (through that tough season) giving me knowledge and wisdom to help people through their difficult time, u have sooooo inspired me pastor with your knowledge and wisdom through your experiences 👏🏽👍🏾😉
This book brought back memories of Jack London’s “ The Call of the Wild”— my favourite.
We are taught to trust in God completely, and make choices wisely, knowing that He has a plan for each of us. Through all the years of my life, good times and difficult times, He was there by my side, shaping and guiding me, helping me learn from each experience.
I love the counsel, “Don’t consider the price, don’t think about the difficulty—- bring every decision under the authority of the Holy Spirit”.
Wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement.
Thank you, Pastor Allan.