Different Boards for Different Waters (Part 1: Speed vs. Stability)
An SUP Paddling Devotional
Walk into a SUP shop and you'll see a bewildering array of board designs. Some boards are long and narrow – built for speed. They cut through water quickly but require more skill and balance. Other boards are short and wide – designed for stability. They're slower but much more forgiving for beginners.
Neither is better. They're designed for different purposes. A speed board is useless in rough water where you need stability. A stability board is inefficient if you're trying to cover distance quickly. Good paddlers know which board to choose based on their actual conditions and actual purpose.
This is exactly how Scripture works.
2 Timothy 2:15 says: "Present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
"Correctly handles" – meaning you need to understand what kind of passage you're reading and why. Matthew is written for a Jewish audience to show Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish law. Mark is written for a Roman audience and emphasizes Jesus's power. Luke is written for Greek audiences and emphasizes Jesus's humanity and compassion. John is written for a deeper theological audience and emphasizes Jesus's divinity.
They're not contradictory. They're different boards designed for different waters.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them to each one, just as he determines. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in the same God works all of them in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
Different gifts, different services, different works – all designed by the same God for different purposes. Some people are called to be teachers (like John with his deep theological writing). Some are called to be evangelists (like Mark with his action-oriented Gospel). Some are called to show compassion (like Luke).
1 Peter 4:10-11 says: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the oracles of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."
Different gifts. Different services. All designed for a purpose. Not better or worse – just different.
Tomorrow's Practice: This week, read four different Gospel accounts of the same story – say, Jesus calming the storm in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Notice how each Gospel tells the story differently based on its audience and purpose. Then apply this to your own life: What board (what gifts, what calling, what personality) has God designed you to be? Are you trying to be someone else's board design, or are you accepting the board you've been given for your specific waters?
Reflection Question: Do you understand your spiritual gifts and calling as a specific board design for specific waters, or are you frustrated that you're not someone else's board design?