Unclogging the Lagan

On route to work today, from the towpath, I witnessed two dredger vessels in the river Lagan. They have diggers mounted on pontoons which then fill motorised barges that will navigate the lower section of the river Lagan, where the material will then be transferred to a large seagoing barge for disposal at an approved location at sea.

Unclogging the sedimentation (sand and silt) and debris which had been washed downstream is called dredging. Dredging is mainly used to maintain depth or create new shipping channels, so that boats and ships don't run aground.

This process of excavation known as dredging reminds me of how the patriarchs re-dug the clogged wells, which the Philistines has purposely filled in. The pesky Philisines had done this in order that the Israelites would be denied fresh spring water.

The Philistines got back at Isaac by throwing dirt and debris into all the wells that his father’s servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham, clogging up all the wells.(Gen. 26:18).

Our local dredging creates a channel of water deep, unclogging enough for boats and ships to navigate without going aground.

This is not unlike our spiritual,mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Each of us have a personal responsibility to remove what is clogging 'the river of life' from flowing in our lives. 

The river of life is a biblical metaphor for the Holy Spirit flowing in our lives (If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water John 7:37).

1. Unbelief clogs this well (The world’s sin is unbelief in me; John 16:9).

2. Selfishness clogs this well (Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves Philippians 2:3)

3. Sin clogs this well  (If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:8,9)

The devil's strategy for each life is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10)

He is a thief who wants to rob us of God's best.

He is a murderer wanting to kill Gods will for our lives.

He is a destroyer, wanting to reek havoc and chaos in our lives.

The plan of Jesus though is the opposite. His strategy is to give us eternal and abundant life.

The antidote for unbelief is faith (Heb 11:6)

The opposite of selfishness is selflessness, that is love in action

The counteragent for sin is righteousness (2 Cor 5:21), found in Jesus' substitutionary work.

As the Lagan is being unclogged let's consider our lives doing the same. 

In these days of uncertainty 

- may our faith shine in face of fear, 

- may our selflessness be demonstrated as supplies in the supermarkets diminish and 

- may our lives live right, demonstrating a life of J.O.Y, the acronym being:  

Jesus first, 

Yourself last and 

Others in between.

Selah.