Read Acts 27:1-28:16
Selected verses for devotion - Acts 27:21-32
21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”
27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.
Reflect
Acts 27 tells us about Paul’s tumultuous and dangerous voyage to Rome, a destination that He must go to bear witness for Christ.
Throughout the journey Paul has demonstrated exemplary act of godliness and righteousness that had affected the lives of many who were on the ship with him. V22 showed how he encouraged others including the centurion and his soldiers (while he himself was only a prisoner). His continuous act of faith had also brought much assurance to those on the ship when they were all ready to give up. The testimony of God’s angel appearing before him had further propelled the faith of those who sailed with him to stay motivated to keep themselves alive. But we took note that even with the assurance of survival they did not know which island they would eventually run aground (v 26). On fourteenth night they took action to start taking sounding (measurement of the depth of water) at midnight which indicated that they were getting closer to the land. They further did the right thing to pray and wait for the day break to come (to have more visibility of the land). Nonetheless the sailors decided to abandon the ship either out of selfishness or lack of patience to wait but eventually they listened to the advice of Paul to stay put by cutting loose the life boat (which was another big act of faith).
Relate
In many ways our faith journey in life is likened to the voyage of Paul. There are 3 ways we can relate to this:
1. Encourage and help others in tumultuous time
2. Stay faithful and trusting
3. Wait upon the Lord
We all have difficult and uncertain episodes in our lives. We may be at our lowest spirit and motivation to keep going. We have difficulties keeping ourselves motivated, let alone encouraging others. I once heard of a story about a godly woman who had to flee from her home with her 2 very young children due to the significant debts racked up by her husband. Creditors were chasing and sending threats after her husband fled the town. In the wee hours of the morning she had to start packing and getting her children (who were still in their pyjamas) ready and leave before dawn. Witnessing this ordeal, the woman’s mother cried. The woman turned around to her mother to comfort her and said - “It’s ok mum, we have to trust God”. Instead of asking for comfort, she gave encouragement to others. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Do we stay faithful and trusting when we are in the deepest pit? Very often we can’t see how we can get out of our dire situation even when we know God is there to help us. Even when God said to Paul that he and the crew would be saved, there was no exact location on where they would land (as they were only told of a certain Island, v26). This message was very vague - which Island? is it inhabitable?, how long to get there?, how to get there?, so on and so forth…
So if we do not see certainty in God’s direction what do we do? Do we still trust and stay confident, or do we doubt and waver? “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward - Hebrews 10:35.
It is inevitable for us to be anxious when we are in tough situation (let alone in life and death situation such as those experienced by Paul and the crew). Do we pray and wait or do we force it through our way? The sailors determined to abandon the ship despite what Paul has assured them with the message from God. They could not wait for the morning to come, and they felt anxious for their lives v30. We may have waited hours, days, weeks or even years for God to answer our prayers. I remembered once God answered my prayers for my wife and my son in 4 and 2 years respectively and they were both not answered in the way I had anticipated. But while waiting upon the Lord for years, the process shaped and refined me and my faith. I learnt that - 1) nothing is impossible for God 2) God will make all things beautiful in His time 3) God’s way is higher, and in the manner that we may not understand. “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope, Psalm 130:5”
And therefore when we experience storms in our lives, let us be still, and know that He is God. Use the opportunity to encourage others so they too may know who our God is. Do not be afraid to wait, for He is faithful and He will make all things beautiful in His time.
Rest
Be still for the power of the Lord,
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal,
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
- Be still for the presence of the Lord lyrics
Alan
Comments
Post a Comment