the captain of my ship

*uncle yeow kwang was speaking at crosslink today about our responses to setbacks and successes in our life based on luke 5:1-11. this is a particular part that i thought was very challenging for myself. paraphrasing what UYK said here plus some of my own thoughts.

one important thing to remember while looking at this passage [the calling of the first disciples] is that peter was a professional fisherman. that means that fishing is his livelihood. no fish = income for the day.

and what is the most important thing to a fisherman? yup..his boat. and what are the ways that the boat is important to the fisherman?

firstly, the boat is the only means that the fisherman has to catch his fish. next, the boat would be where he spends most of his waking hours, even life, working with his fellow fishermen. it probably is the most expensive possession that he has to his name.

yet, peter allowed Jesus to use the precious boat at his pleasure to speak to the crowd. and when Jesus commanded him to send the boat out back to the deep waters, he obeyed too. imagine, a seasoned fisherman taking orders from a carpenter?!

there is a boat in each of us. or rather, several boats. aspects of life that we hold very close to our hearts. i know i certainly have a few..aspects like my studies, my plans and wants for/in my life, my struggles, the people i hold dear to myself. or is the most important thing, life itself - the ship, the oil tanker, the cruise liner.

sometimes we are so unwilling to let Jesus take charge of these boats. we rather hang on to these burdens/issues because they are too important to us to let go. we like to protect them, not allowing anyone to get close. they define who we are essentially and to just give them up..seems like suicide doesnt it? are we just too insecure to live without all of them?

despite the fact that we know who is handling them for us..we often dun have the faith and obedience to bring everything to God, to willingly allow Him to take the things we own, the successes that we are too proud of, the failures we try to erase. how did peter do it so easily?

is Christ the captain of your ship?
or is he merely a lifeboat to bail you out of life's problems?

*i know this is a different vehicle altogether but the idea is the same:)
if my life were like a car
i would give the key to Jesus
if my life were like a car
i would give the key to Jesus

Lord, turn on the engine
i'll roar for You
drive me where You will
i trust my life to You

fill me with Your Spirit's power
so that i can run
and at the end in front of God i'll hear
great job, well done!