We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure as the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love.

When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives, we are no longer hopeless but hopeful, being fastened to Him Who cannot be moved or shaken. He has gone before us, and has shed His precious blood for our salvation. While ships come and go, being anchored for a while, we are anchored permanently in Christ, and we patiently love and serve Him as we wait for His return.

Hebrews 6:19-20 – Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (KJV)

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for the hope and salvation we have in You, that is a sure and steadfast anchor of our souls. We pray that we may learn to trust more in You, even as the billows of life roll round about us. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Three years ago, I joined the line to get a visa in Nairobi, Kenya, for entry into Holland. I was soon at the counter, and was conversing with the consular officer sitting behind the glass window, as she examined my documents. The gentleman who was next in line at my back had crossed the line on the floor, and was leaning close behind. Suddenly, the consular officer took her eyes off me for a brief moment, and questioned the man behind me, "Are you with her?" "No," came the gentle reply. "Then step back!" she responded sharply.

This event has been deeply etched in my memory, and I have recalled it many times over, as I have observed people in a queue — at banks, bus and train stations, and supermarkets — waiting to be served. The difference was that on those occasions, no-one had to tell them, "Step back!" but out of common sense or courtesy, they politely stepped back, not wanting to go into anyone's personal space.

John the Baptist illustrated this concept well, when he said in the words of today's Scripture text, "He must increase, but I must decrease." He understood well that his calling was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, who was the Messiah, sent to bring salvation to a lost and dying world. John the Baptist made a declaration about Jesus in John 1:30: "This is he of whom I said, 'After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.'" (KJV) When we accept Jesus as Lord, Saviour, and Master of our lives, we learn to "step back", and let Him have the forefront. In essence, we decrease, and His life, His wants, His thoughts, His love, His purpose, and His plans for eternity increase in our lives.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the precious gift of salvation we have through Christ Jesus. We pray that we may grow in Him, and, as we do so, we may step back, and let Him have His way in our lives. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen.

I remember my enthusiasm years back as a new believer in the Lord Jesus. I served fervently, not missing any gathering of Christians: prayer meetings, night vigils, fellowships, singing in the church. I soon was called to hold a youth leadership position. At a point in time, I lost focus on the vision, and drew back from church activities. As time elapsed, I realized I was out of place, and had to return to my "first love". I began to serve the Lord as before, and soon was called into two leadership positions in a totally different geographical location, here in Rotterdam. That day, as I walked out of the church building, I felt God saying, "Now you have a second chance."

The whole episode evokes a flashback to the Garden of Eden scene. God gave instructions to our first parents, Adam and Eve, not to eat from one particular tree in the garden. They disobeyed, and were cast out of the garden. Their biggest loss was the communion and fellowship they had enjoyed with God. Sin had entered the world through the first Adam. Fast-forward to many generations later, and Jesus, the second Adam, has come to reconcile man and God. The one hanging on the cross, crying out, "It is finished," has now risen from the dead, proving that His work, the purpose for which He came, has been completed. We now have forgiveness of sins and salvation. God is saying to mankind, "Now you have a second chance to enjoy communion and fellowship with Me."

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have salvation. Grant us the grace to focus on You even in these trying times. In Jesus' name. Amen.

As a student of international law here in the Netherlands, I have some days that are less busy than others, with free hours to work and earn some cash. One job I particularly like is cleaning a busy lawyer's house. I have the liberty to play Christian tapes and listen to classical music as I work. Many times, after I am done with the dusting, wiping, mopping, drying, vacuuming, and ironing, I look back at what was a jumbled, untidy mess, now orderly, and I am so glad that, in two or three hours, I have been able to leave everything clean, tidy, neat, and orderly. My habit is to look back and say, "That looks very good."

In a strange way, this reminds me of our Creator. The first chapter of the book of Genesis talks of the earth being without form, dark, and empty. However, God said, "Let there be light", and thus begins the creation story. By the sixth day, God saw everything that He had made, and it was very good. Many times, our lives may seem like the dark and empty mess the earth was before creation, and we do not see any hope, or light at the end of the dark situation. We need to ask God to come in, sort our lives, place situations in order, and make things "very good".

Prayer: Heavenly Father, come into our disorderly situations and lives, and put things in order for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.