Sail On

How do we please God? When does He find pleasure in us?

Is it when we are especially good, or when we have read our three chapters in the Bible for the day?

The Bible says that God finds pleasure in us when we have faith in Him.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

But, it must be remembered that this is follow-through faith.

But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him (10:38).

Do Not Shrink Back
Whatever you are believing about God or about His calling on your life, do not shrink back. Whether you are facing opportunity or opposition, do not shrink back from what God has called you to do.

To Lower a Sail
The Greek word for "shrink back" is hupostello. The idea of hupostello can metaphorically mean to lower a sail, or to cut back on the course one is pursuing.

Thus, our calling can be likened to the sailing of a boat. When God calls us to weigh anchor and set our sails and we obey, He shall fill our sails with the sweet blowing of His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God fills our sails and gives us the grace to go forth into uncharted waters. It takes faith in God to follow through with the plans that He has given you. Leave your sails up, and let the Holy Spirit guide your "boat" to the destiny that God has for you.

Jesus said:

The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:8).

Follow-through faith submits to the Wind of God and allows the Holy Spirit to guide our "boat of life." Follow-through faith keeps the sails up and pushes forward to accomplish what it is that God desires. Follow-through faith says:

Wherever the Holy Spirit decides to move me by blowing upon my sails of faith, I will go. I will not take down my sails in fear nor retreat. I will not take down my sails to stop at a harbor because it looks comfortable, but I will follow through. I will stop only when and where the Holy Spirit stops filling my sails--when I have reached my destiny, His destiny, for my life.

The Bible gives examples of men and women of God who sailed through uncharted waters and who kept their sails flying high in the midst of their God-directed voyage.

Noah sailed right along with the Spirit of God and kept building that ship. He refused to take down his sails in spite of the criticism. He refused to take down his sails even though no one had ever seen enough rain to fill a puddle let alone the entire globe!

Abraham lifted his sails to the heavens, and he was blown by the Spirit from his familiar moorings. In follow-through faith, he went through uncharted waters of adversity and blessings until at long last he found that city "whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).

Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to blow on His sails. The winds of God's Spirit brought our Lord to the waters of death, and then to the fresh waters of the resurrection.

Like these Bible heroes before you, once you know what God wants you to do, then set sail and stay afloat.

Others May Doubt Your Calling and Election

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:10-11).

Over the years of being a pastor and educator, I have found that most Christians can weather the storms of adversity like poverty, illness, natural disasters, and loss of loved ones.

However, the one thing that most often causes people to lower their sails is the adversity of criticism. Being humans, we are far too often influenced by other people. I have seen Christians begin to doubt their calling and ministry due to the criticisms of people far more than for any other reason.

One of my professors used to say, "Make your calling and election sure. Once you know what God wants you to do, never doubt it again. Others may, others will! but you cannot."

Criticism Adds Strength to Your Sails
We must all be reminded from time to time that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master. Do not allow your mind to place your colleagues or your adversaries in His place. It is the Lord, not people, to whom we must ultimately give an account.

Neither your colleagues nor your adversaries died in your place, and it was not they who called you into the ministry. Keep your eyes on the One Who fills your sails by the power of His Spirit.

I am not particularly thick-skinned, but I have learned over the years that criticisms are not all bad even when the person's intent is to harm. I may have actually learned more about how to be a better person, minister, and educator from the criticisms of my adversaries than from the praise of my friends.

While we should not allow criticisms to destroy us (not allow them to tear down our sails), we should also not simply dismiss them. Some of my harshest critics have been my greatest teachers. So, in a strange twist, what they intended to be damaging and injurious to me turned out to be educational stepping stones, and for that I thank them. Had they known that they would have actually contributed to me being a better person, they might have withheld their criticisms. But, they have blessed me without even realizing it.

Lift Your Sails and Don't Doubt Your Calling
What is it that God has filled your sails to do? Then lift your sails and don't doubt your calling. Have follow-though faith and when the adversity of criticism comes your way, learn from it. Thank your critics and learn from what they are saying about you. Often, you will find that your critics are partly right. Assess their criticisms, and learn from them.

If you can use their criticisms the way God wants you to, then their intentions to harm you actually become strength to your sails.

When we have follow-through faith we will pray,

Dear Lord, fill my sails with your sweet breath. I commit myself to follow-through faith. I will not take down my sails of faith in the midst of my ministry voyage, but I shall persevere until I have reached my destiny . . . Your destiny , for my life. I commit myself to sail on.

As one who's been there, I know that there are people right now who are feeling tired of the voyage. You want to lower your sail or cut back on the course you are pursuing. But, if you know this is God's will for you, then don't shrink back.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9).