Todays readings .. Esther 9&10, Jonah 1, Hebrews 6&7
Anchors are vital in certain situations. Do we realize how much we need them in our journey through life? In some situations, other people can be an anchor, but what is this anchor we are reading about in Hebrews?
Well first we noticed when we started reading the book of Jonah today we saw he was in a ship where anchors were obviously useless, so tempestuous was the sea and the water was too deep; however, when we came across the reference to the “steadfast anchor of the soul” in our Hebrews reading [6 v.19] we began to reflect on how much we need that anchor now!
And the need for an anchor is almost certainly going to increase in the future as the storms of life in the 21st Century increase in this evermore godless world. Lets take special note of the context in which the words occur. “…. We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” [v.18-19] It is the hope that looks beyond the increasing uncertainty and chaos of these days that is the anchor.
The point is also made that “God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love you have showed for his sake in serving the saints (other believers) as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may (be) … imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” [v.10-12]
Our work is to serve each other, help each other along the road, for in doing that we serve Christ. Perhaps another example is the rowers in a boat; it was almost certainly the ancient type of ship that used a team of rowers that Jonah was on. How frustrating if some are not pulling their weight. Those rowers were obviously desperately doing so, without success, until God acted.
We are called to serve a just God and a Saviour and if we serve him well he provides us with “a sure and steadfast anchor.”
