Anna Maria Island, Florida....many years ago...we still recall this one because it was nothing short of absolute fun for all seven of the Weber Tribe.
We were living in Tampa at the time and were offered a beach cabin by a wonderfully kind member of our church. We did not have to pray long over that invitation! We enjoyed the beach, (private I might add), the sun, the surf, fetching up sand dollars, sunset evening, sand castles...and well, you get it. Quiet, enjoyable, night time family games with the kids...this was the absolute best experience we could ever have dreamed of.
Nearing the end of our week, the morning surf seemed different. Our youngest, (now away at college) was goofing in what seemed to be shallow waves, well within our view from the beach. We began to notice that he began to drift...and then to bob up and down while he was adrift, and then to obviously struggle to catch his breath above the water that was now sweeping him away. He was caught in a riptide!
In shock and panic, emotion took over. With Charlette coaching me from the shore I ran to the water and began to swim as hard as I could to our son. When I reached him, he clung to me, both of us relieved by the safety of being locked together. His clutch was one that I would never forget...he was not letting go...and that was fine with the both of us! As I turned to swim with him parallel to the beach, ( the only way out of the riptide), I turned and to my amazement there was my oldest son! He was a young, young teenager at the time. I was horrified...now three of us were in harm's way. "What are you doing here?" I screamed! "That is my little brother, and he needs me!" Seth said without a hesitation.
We made it back to the shore...all three of us...and a bond formed that day between the youngest and the oldest that remains strong to this moment...years and years later.
"If anyone see his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life."
1 John 5:16
Sin can get you in trouble...deep trouble. It is possible to let yourself 'play' in danger, with the thought that the sweeping of the tide of trouble you can easily escape by sheer will. Then, you watch as your life is swept away by an avoidable compromise that led to a spiritual entrapment that cost you just about everything...until the Rescuer showed up!
Today, keep yourself out the 'riptide' of compromise. Watch your thought life. Guard your heart. Be careful what you listen to and be sure to take note of any possibility of being 'swept away'. Thank God for those that love you enough to pray for you and who place themselves in the difficult position of interceding for you...sometimes even face to face. For those that have loved you enough to warn you...listen and receive the invitation the Father is making for your safety.
AND...be willing to be used of Him to be a 'Rescuer' if you see someone that you know is being caught away by the deadly riptide of sin.
If to love God is to obey Him, (1 John is all about that theme!), then be sure that you love Him enough to keep yourself from willful sin and to accept the call of active duty that puts you in directly in the position of restoring hope to your 'brother' or your 'sister'.
'Family' is always worth putting yourself at risk for...especially those of the 'Family of Faith'. Jesus did that for you...we can do no less than that for one another.
Today, keep yourself out the 'riptide' of compromise. Watch your thought life. Guard your heart. Be careful what you listen to and be sure to take note of any possibility of being 'swept away'. Thank God for those that love you enough to pray for you and who place themselves in the difficult position of interceding for you...sometimes even face to face. For those that have loved you enough to warn you...listen and receive the invitation the Father is making for your safety.
AND...be willing to be used of Him to be a 'Rescuer' if you see someone that you know is being caught away by the deadly riptide of sin.
If to love God is to obey Him, (1 John is all about that theme!), then be sure that you love Him enough to keep yourself from willful sin and to accept the call of active duty that puts you in directly in the position of restoring hope to your 'brother' or your 'sister'.
'Family' is always worth putting yourself at risk for...especially those of the 'Family of Faith'. Jesus did that for you...we can do no less than that for one another.
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