Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her, for she is your life. (Proverbs 4: 13)

A young ensign had nearly completed his first overseas tour of sea duty when he was given the opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship under way. With a stream of crisp commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon, the ship had left port and was steaming out of the channel.

The ensign’s efficiency had been remarkable. In fact, the deck as abuzz with talk that he had set a new record for getting the mammoth destroyer under way. The ensign glowed at his accomplishment and was not all that surprised when another seaman approached him with a message from the captain. He was, however, a bit surprised to find that it was a radio message, and he was even more surprised when read, “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules—make sure the captain is on board before getting under way.”

God’s Manual for Life, the Bible, is our ‘set of instructions” for getting our lives under way. But we must never become so bound to the book that we forget the Author of it and relationship God desires to have with us on our voyage through life.

God of Love, please be “on board” with us as we set forth on the sea of life each day!