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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 793 April 28, 2003 Solo Trip PRAYER REQUESTS Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? If you are in need of prayer, simply drop us a note. SOLO TRIP Just a few years after we were married, I decided I wanted a canoe. I purchased a 16' Coleman (TM) brand canoe made out of a durable synthetic material, and a friend and I assembled it. We assembled it in the living room of a second story apartment, which isn't the brightest of plans, nor is getting a complete canoe out of a second story apartment an easy task, but that's a story for another day. With a little practice, I did learn the basics of canoeing, and while far from being an expert, I can manoeuvre one with relative ease. There was one occasion though where I was still very much still in the early phases of the learning curve and that's what I want to speak about this morning. We went down to Alberta's famous Cypress Hills Provincial Park for a few days of camping and took the canoe with us. Early the first morning, I threw the canoe into the lake, climbed into the stern (that's the back of the boat for the non-boating crowd) and went for a solo trip. The lake is beautiful and runs east to west for some distance. The prevailing winds come from the west. It wasn't long before a breeze came up, which quickly became a stiff wind. I enjoyed racing down the lake with the wind. The scenery was beautiful and the trip exhilarating. When I got to the far end of the lake, I turned for the long paddle back to the campground. I couldn't generate enough momentum to work my way back up the lake. With me in the stern, the lightweight canoe just lifted up into the waves and I could make no progress. I'd paddle until I was pooped, get a couple of hundred yards at most and then be blown back to my starting point. I've since learned that if I had thrown some rocks into the bow for ballast, the front end would have cut through the waves with relative ease and I would have been much better off. I didn't know that then, and eventually realized that no matter how hard I worked I was not going to paddle back up the lake. Since the wind blows there pretty much non-stop that left me in a dilemma. I grabbed the rope tied to the bow, climbed into the lake, and began walking along the shore towing the canoe behind me. The water was cold and I was no longer enjoying the wonderful scenery. I had walked for the better part of an hour, dragging the canoe against the wind when a motorboat came by and realized my problem. The driver was kind enough to tie the canoe behind his boat and give me a ride back to the campground. In a few minutes we covered what might have taken me another hour or more of walking. Without the help of the motorboat, I would have had a lot of work still ahead of me. If I had continued trying to paddle instead of getting out and pulling the canoe, I might still be there. Paddling that canoe into the wind solo reminds me of the way many people try to get to heaven. They feel that if they work hard enough, long enough, to be "nice", "moral" people they will be able to earn their way. The truth is that no one ever earns his or her salvation. You see, we born dead in our sin. No amount of "work" by a dead person can ever give life. Only God can give life. God is life. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24 NIV For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NIV This morning’s lesson wouldn't be complete without the verses you probably assumed I was going to start with For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV Our works are important. There are works to be done after we become believers. God has ordained them. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17 NIV As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26 NIV By all means continue to paddle, continue to strive for good works, but remember that those works do not earn you salvation. Salvation is a gift from God that must be accepted or rejected on its own merit. Until next time, consider the state of your salvation. Did you get it by faith (if not you don't have it)? Is it manifesting itself in your life by works of love? If you have salvation by faith and works as an outpouring of love rejoice! If not, it's time to get right with God today. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you know in whom you believe. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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