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Life Aboard a Sinking Ship

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 20, Psalm 107, Isaiah 47, Revelation 17.

Gospel summary: This world and its desires can easily drag us away from Christ. We have often been led astray by the world's way of thinking and found ourselves grasping other idols because we've forgotten how the true God has chosen us, called us, and redeemed us at the cost of his only Son's life blood. Yet even in our sin, God has been gracious to discipline us and lead us back to his heart. God will soon judge this world and its ways, therefore I must not grow too comfortable here, lest I go down with it. I must always view this world as a sinking ship and its pleasures as those which fools enjoy like those who carelessly eat caviar on the deck of the Titanic, unconcerned that their pleasures would soon result in their own deaths.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I need your grace. This world is full of temptations and snares at every turn. There is no place I can hide from the enticing delicacies of worldliness because my own flesh draws them out wherever I go. Give me strength from your word and by your Holy Spirit to keep fighting against my indwelling sin and resisting the temptation's of this world until my dying breath. I have so often sat down at the table with my enemies and enjoyed their fleeting pleasures only to discover they are enslaving, poisonous, and leave me guilt-ridden. Thank you for graciously redeeming me from this sin-saturated lifestyle at the cost of your Son's very blood.  Give me eyes to see the handwriting on the wall and a heart to know that this world's time is running out. Help me to learn from Lot's wife the importance of never looking back longingly to my old worldly lifestyle. Thank you that there are far greater pleasures and treasures to be found in fellowship with Christ than in all this world's broken cisterns. For the glory of Christ I pray, amen.

Key verses: "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!" (Psalm 107:14-15)

Hymn: "Only in Thee" by Thomas Chisholm

Only in Thee, O Saviour mine,
Dwelleth my soul in peace divine,
Peace that the world, tho' all combine,
Never can take from me.
Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet,
Fail at the last my longings to meet;
Only in Thee my bliss is complete,
Only, dear Lord, in Thee!

Only in Thee, a radiance bright
Shines like a beacon in the night,
Guiding my pilgrim bark aright
Over life's trackless sea.
Only in Thee, when troubles molest,
When with temptation I am oppressed,
There is a sweet pavilion of rest,
Only, dear Lord, in Thee!

Only in Thee, when days are drear,
When neither sun nor stars appear,
Still I can trust and feel no fear,
Sing when I cannot see.
Only in Thee, whatever betide,
All of my need is freely supplied,
There is no hope or helper beside,
Only, dear Lord, in Thee!

Only in Thee, dear Saviour, slain,
Losing Thy life my own to gain,
Trusting, I'm cleansed from ev'ry stain,
Thou art my only plea.
Only in Thee, my heart will delight,
Till in that land where cometh no night,
Faith will be lost in heavenly sight,
Only, dear Lord, in Thee!

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