A young ensign had nearly completed his first overseas tour of sea duty when he was given an opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship underway. With a stream of crisp commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon, the ship had left port and was steaming out of the channel.
The ensign’s efficiency had been remarkable. In fact, the deck was abuzz with talk that he had set a new record for getting a destroyer under way. The ensign glowed at his accomplishment and was not all that surprised when another seaman approached him with a message from the captain. He was, however, a bit surprised to find that it was a radio message, and he was even more surprised when he read, “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules – make sure the captain is aboard before getting under way.”
God’s Manual for Life, the Bible, is our “set of instructions” for getting our lives under way. But we must never become so bound to the book that we forget the Author of it and the relationship He desires to have with us.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me ~ Rev 3:20