When Did You Last Drop Your Sounding Line?”

1. Understanding the Sounding Line in Scripture

In Acts 27:28, Luke recounts a moment during the Apostle Paul’s journey to Rome when sailors dropped a sounding line to measure the depth of the sea:

“So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.”
— Acts 27:28, ESV

A sounding line was a weighted rope used by ancient sailors to measure water depth. The first measurement showed 20 fathoms (approximately 120 feet), and the second showed 15 fathoms (90 feet), indicating they were approaching land and potentially dangerous rocks.

2. The Spiritual Parallel: Examine Your Depth

This physical practice mirrors a spiritual principle. Just as sailors measured their surroundings to avoid shipwreck, Christians are called to examine their spiritual condition to avoid moral and spiritual ruin.

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV

This practice of spiritual self-examination is a biblical command. The Christian life is a journey through the “seas” of this world, and if we fail to measure our spiritual depth, we may drift into danger without realizing it.

3. The Theology of Drifting and Depth

Drifting in Scripture often refers to slowly moving away from God, usually unnoticed at first.

“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
— Hebrews 2:1, ESV

Depth, on the other hand, represents intimacy with God, spiritual maturity, and rootedness in the faith.

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice.”
— Hebrews 5:14, ESV

When we become spiritually shallow neglecting prayer, Scripture, repentance, and obedience we become more vulnerable to temptation, anxiety, and sin. Like the sailors in Acts 27, we must assess whether we are moving into more dangerous waters or approaching the safety of God’s presence.

4. The Importance of Anchoring Your Soul

When the sailors saw the water becoming shallower, they responded quickly:

“And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.”
— Acts 27:29, ESV

Spiritually, we must anchor ourselves in Christ and pray for the light of God’s guidance.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.”
— Hebrews 6:19, ESV

Jesus is the anchor of our souls firm, secure, and unchanging. Anchoring in Him means trusting in His Word, seeking His will, and walking in His Spirit.

5. Practical Application: When Did You Last Measure?

• Are you growing in love, truth, and faith?
• Are your decisions drawing you nearer to Christ—or further away?
• Have you allowed distractions, sin, or fear to shallow your spiritual life?

If you’re not checking your spiritual depth regularly, you’re at risk of drifting into spiritual danger. Even small compromises, left unchecked, can lead to disaster.

6. Final Call: Return to Depth

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8, ESV

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
— Matthew 26:41, ESV

Conclusion: A Daily Discipline of Depth

The story in Acts 27 isn’t just about a storm at sea it’s a spiritual wake-up call. God calls every believer to regularly drop the sounding line of self-examination, to measure spiritual growth, and to respond to danger with repentance and faith.

So—when did you last drop your sounding line?

Be blessed

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