Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 79-80; Acts 27-28
Devotional Thought:
Well, we left Paul an innocent man, but with two cowards who were afraid to stand up to the Jewish leadership, and so they keep Paul in bonds. Paul always wanted to preach in Rome, but I am sure he never thought he would get there by way of being a prisoner. As they were docked in Crete, the waters begin to get rough and the winds begin to blow. Paul told the centurion, Justice, that the voyage was no longer safe and that they should not continue. It has always been a frustration to me personally to try to help someone who has not been willing to ask you for advise. I have learned it is best to just wait for them to ask rather than to volunteer advice that is unsolicited. However, it is extremely hard to watch someone take bad advice and begin to act on it. “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.” (vs. 11) When you give someone the truth and they do not accept it, unfortunately for them it does not change the truth. As the storm raged and the ship was completely out of control, Paul once again speaks to the centurion. “But after a long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have harkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.” (vs. 21-22) I am encouraged by the example of Paul not to have a pity party for himself or to get stubborn and refuse to continue to help. He jumps back in for a second attempt to help the situation. He is careful to draw the attention away from himself and place the attention on the angel that God has sent to give him wisdom and safety. In any storm of life, we should cry out the same words as Paul cried out, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God…” (vs. 25) What a great exhortation for the Christian life Paul gives in his third counsel to these centurions and soldiers. These men were ready to act upon their own wisdom and take matters into their own hands and try to solve their problem their own way. Paul says, “…except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” (vs. 31) These men had a decision to make, much like you and I make decisions during the storms of life. Will we believe God or take matters into our own hands? These men cut the ropes and let their man-made solution drop into the water and they placed their trust in the capable hands of God. May I encourage you this morning to put your faith and trust in the capable hands of God? No matter what storm you are going through this morning; trust what God says in His word. Trust His promises for there are certain and will always be true. There is a song that has been a real encouragement to me, “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” There will be times when the storms are real and life will not seem to make sense, but we can be sure that our God knows what is eternally best and He is doing what is best for us in that eternal perspective.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to never doubt in the darkness what You have clearly revealed in the light. Help me to apply the clear teachings of scripture during the storms of life. Help me to trust you during the storms of life.
• Lord, thank you for the promises that you have given to us. Thank you for your faithfulness and grace. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father whose love never fails, whose wisdom is abundant, whose grace is sufficient, and whose mercy is new every morning.