Last week I mentioned the new sermon series we are beginning this Sunday called, The Voyage of Life - What does it mean to be "in the boat" with Jesus? This Sunday's message is called "What Floats Your Boat?" The title comes from an expression you may have heard - "Whatever floats your boat!" What it usually means is something like, "Whatever makes you happy." Sunday we will begin with this phrase that I have turned into a question, "What floats your boat?" -- but we plan to head in a different direction.  

In looking at four stories from the Bible that talk about Jesus and boats, I think we will discover something about our journey or voyage in life and what it all means. For example, in this Sunday's story about Jesus calling the disciples to leave their fishing boats and follow him, I wonder what different things the boats might represent - both to the disciples and to us. Perhaps the boats represented their way of making a living - their livelihood. Maybe the boats represent the familiar - what they know and feel comfortable doing. Whatever it means, Jesus invites the disciples to leave their boats behind and follow him.
 
Yet, even when Jesus invited the disciples to leave their boats and follow him, this would not be the last time we see boats in the gospel stories. The disciples may be leaving their boats for now - but we will see Jesus and boats come together again in some very significant events in the lives of the disciples.
 
As followers of Christ, I believe we are all in the same boat with Jesus. And I think that is actually very good news! Jesus is right there with us "in the boat" at the beginning, the middle, and even the very end of our lives - through both the good times and the bad. So, come this Sunday to find out more about what that means for your life today.

Prayer for Today

Loving God, as we make our way in life, we remember that somewhere along this journey you invited us to follow you. Help us to remember what a high calling it is to be a child of God and a Christ-follower. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.