Captain of Our Souls

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. (Luke 8:22-24)(NIV84)

"What a blessed thing it is to have Him with us on our voyage across life's sea! There is, however, something even more blessed. It seems to me that the disciples said as it were: "Here is where we can do without His help....We certainly know more about seafaring than He does...so we'll just fix a nice, comfortable spot, here at the stern of the boat, and let Him have a much needed sleep." And so they did. They were having Him with them alright, but only as a passenger. They had yet to learn that He must be the Captain..."All went well with the disciples, and they got on splendidly without Him while the sea was smooth...That is why God sent the storm. ...The storm drove the disciples to Him" (Van Ryn).

Out of the night that covered me

Freed from the fear of sin's dark scroll;

I thank my Savior, for 'twas He

Rescued for aye my precious soul.

Caught in the storms of circumstance,

I oft have winced and cried aloud,

Yet e'er His mighty, loving hands,

Have calmed the soul before Him bowed.

Amid life's sea of bitter tears,

His words of hope, like beacons, stand;

And how His love my being cheers,

As on I sail to Glory-land;

It matters not how soon the end,

My bark will safely reach its goal.

Christ is my Pilot, Master, Friend,

He is the Captain of my soul!

(devotional by Dr. J. Howard Goddard)

The Path of Self-Control

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city...broken down" (Proverbs 25:28)


"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov. 16:32).

The Christian experience of salvation does not destroy personality or shrink personal responsibility. The Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). But he did not mean that he, himself, was to act less and less like a man and more and more like a thing without a mind or a will. He was talking about the limelight. When Christ comes into the life, the truly converted want Him to be seen. That is what it means for Him to increase. He will increase in visibility in our lives as we more and more learn to be full men. The least gift that Christ can give is salvation. He wants to give us much, much more than a new birth, even a new life.

All human beings should practice self-control. But Christians must do it or pay a terrible price in blessings missed. Self-discipline is essential to godly living. There are probably more failures in God's service for this reason than for any other.

The intelligent self-control possible to the believer is synonymous with a Christ-regulated life or a Spirit-filled life. None of these terms contradicts or rules out the others.

There is no victory possible to us that is as great as victory over our tendency toward undisciplined living.

"Self-government is indeed, the noblest rule on earth; the object of a loftier ambition than the possession of crowns or scepters. The truest conquest is when the soul is bringing every thought into captivity to Christ. The monarch of his own mind is the only real potentate."---Caird

Out of myself into Him I adore,

There to abide in His love evermore;

Through endless ages His glory to see,

My Jesus has lifted me!

---Avis B. Christiansen

(Rev. Roger J. Andrus)

A Prayer to Be Used by God

Lord, help us to love you; teach us to serve you. Give us your strength that we may overcome our corrupt nature. Grant this day that we may have power from on high to resist every temptation; to confess Christ before men and women; to labor steadfastly with a single eye to your glory; to live in the spirit of prayer, in faith, humility, self-denial, and love; and to walk before you in that narrow way that leads to eternal life. Fill us with love for others. Teach us to do good to all people, to visit and relieve the fatherless and the widows in their affliction. Lord, for your name's sake, hear us. Amen.

--Edward Bickersteth (1786-1850)

The Path of Anger

"A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment" (Proverbs 19:19)


The man of habitual temper is both sick and sinful. He has developed a pattern of behavior and in a sense he has done it deliberately. Good psychology and good theology both hold him responsible. No one angers us. We respond to people and situations by taking a position or attitude of anger.

Along with fear, frustration, and guilt, anger (or temper, as it should be called) is one of the prominent causes of emotional and mental illness. Seldom is any neurosis simple. Usually it is somewhat complex. And nearly always anger is part of the complex cause. It is always foolish to court sickness, and temper is no exception. "Anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Eccl. 7:9). That means that a wise man will seek help from God to control his feelings, he will never deliberately promote a "habit of temper."

The man of temper is in line for both trouble and punishment. "A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife" (Prov. 15:18).

The last half of our text warns us that "if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again." He gets into trouble and if you come along and get him out of it, you haven't really helped because he will just get angry again in a few minutes and get into more trouble. His real trouble is not the trouble that comes to him because he has shown anger promiscuously. His real trouble is his anger itself. He needs deliverance from his temper. In other words, he needs salvation and a new nature with a new set of attitudes and new emotional patterns.

"The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression" (Prov. 19:11).

"Put off...anger" (Col. 3:8).

(Rev. Roger J. Andrus)

The Path of Understanding

"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding" (Prov. 9:6)


The Path of Understanding

Wisdom calls and folly calls.
Both call to the "simple" (Prov. 9:4,16).
Wisdom says, "Come, eat of my bread" (9:5).
Folly says, "Turn in hither...bread eaten in secret is pleasant" (9:16,17).


Understanding begins where wisdom begins. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (9:10). We enter the path of understanding when we receive the Word of God to be the Word of God, with all that that implies. Some knowledge is delightful, some is useful, but knowledge of things holy is essential to true understanding of ourselves and our environment.

This is the age of psychology with its emphasis on insights. This path of understanding of which our text speaks is a path of truest insights. It leads to genuine self-understanding. The instructed believer is not a simpleton nor a fool going blindly he knows not where. He knows his origin as a creature of God who was taken into sin by his first father. He knows his position as a redeemed child of God including the privileges of His household. And, he also knows his eternal future with its unlimited opportunities of personal growth and development. Maturation has begun.

Understanding is also social, that is, the believer grows into an understanding of others. In learning the things of God, and understanding himself in great measure, his strengths and his weaknesses, he is prepared for a realistic relationship to others. He knows them not as completely "other" but as bone of his bone. He understands them because they are so much like himself. And knowing and understanding he cares.

The path of understanding brings glory to God and good to man. "For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased" (Prov. 9:11).

(Rev. Roger J. Andrus)

The Path of Life

"Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, [the tempter's] ways are moveable" (Prov. 5:6)

The Path of Life

The path of life is a Bible-centered life. "He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction" (Prov. 10:17). It stands written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4).

Feeding on the Word of God we avoid the path of the tempter.  In this fifth chapter, as in the Proverbs generally, the tempter is a temptress, a "strange woman." "Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house" (5:8). We will not needlessly expose ourselves to any temptation or device of Satan. "Shun evil companions."

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

The path of life is also a path of obedience to God. "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings" (Prov. 5:21).

Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth (Prov. 5:7).

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet

Or we'll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

--J. H. Sammis

Further, the path of life is one of satisfaction. It is the richest life possible. "Drink waters our of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well" (Prov. 5:15).

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life" (Deut. 30:19).

(by Rev. Roger J. Andrus)

Real Freedom

Read Romans 6:15-22

One of the greatest motivating factors for people throughout the world today is the quest for freedom, for self-determination. Armies fight for it. Nations vote for it. Individuals work for it.

But here in Romans 6, Scripture teaches that, ultimately, no one is ever totally "free." In the end, everyone serves either God or sin. In fact, Paul uses the word "slaves" to describe the relationship (Rom. 6:16-20; see "slaves" at Rom. 6:16). We are either slaves of righteousness or slaves of sin.

What does that imply for our understanding of the nature of freedom? Is complete autonomy possible? Is there such a thing as self-rule or political self-determination? Yes, in a limited sense. But here as elsewhere, Scripture describes real freedom as a change of masters: being set free from slavery to sin in order to become slaves to righteousness instead.

All of us are enslaved to sin from the moment of conception. Our only hope is Christ, who is able to emancipate us from that bondage (Rom. 7:24-25). Then, having saved us, He enables us through His Holy Spirit to do what we could not do in and of ourselves--live in obedience to God's Law (Rom. 8:3-4). Therein lies true freedom.

(from The Word in Life Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson)

Walking with God

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24)


The story of Enoch, though brief, is telling, and never fails to bring refreshing to the child of God. "Before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). He was happy in the fellowship of God; he had a yearning to please God in every move and motive of his life.

"Walking with God" suggests deep earnestness, as in the case of Jehoshaphat whose "heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 17:6). "Walking with God" means total yieldedness (Colossians 2:6). "Walking with God" means close communion with God.

The commencement of this communion with God in Enoch's life did not come until the birth of his son (Genesis 5:22). The coming of that special blessing from the Lord quickened his devotion to the Lord.

The continuance of his communion with God was uninterrupted for three hundred years despite many irksome responsibilities. Jude tells us that Enoch was surrounded by wicked men who abused the name of the Lord (v.14,15). But he "pleased God."

The culmination of his communion with God was crowned by entrance upon the life or perfect fellowship above. He did not have to die. God took him, just like He will "change" and take every believer when the Lord comes for the Church.

The little girl told her mother that in Sunday School, "we have been learning about a man who used to go for walks with God. His name was Enoch. And, mother, one day they went for an extra long walk, and they walked on, and on, and on, until God said to Enoch, 'You are a long way from home; you had better just come in and stay.' And he went in."

"In thy presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11)

(this devotional by Dr. N. A. Woychuk)

Amazing Grace

The inspiring story behind John Newton's writing of "Amazing Grace", which reflects his conversion from a miserable life of slave trading, is a familiar one to most Christians. Yet all believers can benefit from a reminder of God's astounding compassion for humanity.

We see throughout history that humans have a knack for building walls to keep God out, only to trap themselves in their own prisons. God has repeatedly responded by rescuing those who languish in chains of spiritual darkness--not only forgiving them but also richly restoring them to true life. Even the most hardened souls--like the wicked and idolatrous King Manasseh of Israel--can discover God's amazing grace. And although our response to such grace must always be inadequate, God lovingly accepts our offerings of worship. Let us thank him for his grace toward us.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)

We Know

1 John Chapter 5

It is an amazing thing that in a comparatively small book such as First John the word "know" is used twenty-five times, and in the fifth chapter, which we are presently considering, it is mentioned seven times. We are constantly meeting those who challenge our ability to know that we are saved (v. 13); to know that we have the truth (v.20); and to know that our prayers are answered (v. 15). It will be evident that John has no doubts concerning our ability to be confidently certain of the reality of all of these things.

Christianity is not a speculative religion except for those who know nothing of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. An unregenerate man, however brilliantly trained, can approach the Scriptures with as shrewd a literary analysis as applied to Plato's Republic, or Shakespeare, and will find nothing whatever within the Word to give him the assurance that the believer finds therein. The Scriptures teach us (1 Cor. 2:14) that "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The prerequisite, as we have already learned (1 Jn. 2:20), to genuine knowledge of truth is the unction of the Holy Spirit. For this reason an unregenerate criticism of the Scriptures is, for the believer, totally meaningless. Ephesians 2:1 makes it adequately clear that the natural and unregenerate man is of himself spiritually inert. Only the quickening power of the Holy Spirit can awaken his soul to the truth of God and to the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Scripture declares, "...no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3).

The world will continually refuse our testimony on this matter and refuse to recognize that there is a supernatural impartation to every genuine believer in Christ. We must not blame them for there was a time when we too could not see until the Holy Spirit quickened us.


(by Dr. Robert M. McMillan)