For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:12-14)
In 2021 a massive cargo container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal. The ship was wedged across the canal at an angle that made it impossible for other ships to pass by.
Over 12% of the world’s trade ships pass through this canal. The ship was stuck for over a week, and the blockage was estimated to cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars in negative revenues.
They enlisted the brightest minds to solve the problem. And they tried every means imaginable to dislodge the ship. Engineers even tried digging it out with massive cranes and pulling it out with multiple tugboats. However, the ship didn’t budge.
What finally got the boat out was not minds or might; it was the rising tide. The tide came in higher with a new full moon cycle. And the boat lifted to float free once again.
JFK used the phrase often: “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
Generally, when he used the expression, JFK was referring to the need for all Americans to work together towards a shared future. Many today still use JFK’s quote when trying to encourage or lift those that are in or going through a difficult time in their lives: You’re the boat, in a bit of trouble, but don’t despair; have faith, for soon your tide will change, it will rise, and so will you.
While these kinds of sayings are useful and can surely be used to console those in times of need, what if we shifted our focus? Let’s focus on the lifter—the tide, not the one being lifted—the boat.
When we shift our focus to the lifter, we can change the world.
The apostle Paul was extraordinary at illustrating how faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, lifts ourselves and others up. Paul was committed to lifting others up by sharing the Good News about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was raised on the cross so that we too could be raised.
(Romans 12:3-21) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Paul’s illustration clearly defines what it is to be the tide, not the boat: Do not focus on what others can do for you; focus on what you can do for them.
The world has become a bunch of whining babies—the #/me-first generation… whose focus seems to be only on what others can do for them. It seems as if there are more boats than ever, just waiting for the tide.
Today there exists a world full of people who need to be lifted. Just as JFK was telling our nation to have hope in the future, Jesus is telling us to change the world. For all those who are lost, the tide they are waiting for may be you.
If the world could simply focus on the tide rather than the boat, then very few would be stuck. Jesus was lifted up so that we could be lifted up. Let’s do some lifting for the Lord. Let’s help others learn to focus on the tide, not the boat. Let’s help them focus on Jesus Christ.
Rise up like Jesus and Glorify God in all you say and do.
“I tell you the Truth”
Read the Bible
Leave a Reply