This past week we had the chance to hold a worship service on a ship. For me it was a first. I love worship services and preaching. Worshiping on a ship with a group of guys who haven’t had the chance to share in corporate worship for months made it even more meaningful. Huddled up in the crew’s lounge space, we sang worship songs together (thanks to our intern, Gabe, and his willingness to play guitar and sing), shared in the word, prayed, partook in the Lord's Supper, and shared in a message.
The message I shared centered around the fact that God is always with us. It is something I think it is important to remind seafarers. Their time on the ship can be physically and mentally arduous. The solitude can be overwhelming. One of the blessings of being a follower of Jesus is that we are never alone. God is with us.
Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” in Romans 8:35. He is asking can anything separate us from the love of Jesus? Is there anything we could do that would make us untouchable by our God? In response he says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Simply put, there is nothing we can do that would cause God to leave us. He is always with us. Even when we run from Him and ignore Him, He is there. He is waiting for us.
All we have to do is acknowledge Him. All we have to do is allow him to be our Lord. All we have to do is trust and follow Him. Chances are if you are reading this, you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. But if that is not the case, I invite you to acknowledge the God who loves you so greatly that He has never left you. Even in your darkest days, He is with you. You never have to be alone again.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
Amen Matt - Words to live by 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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