Monday we will finish the book of Acts and spend some time in the book of Jude. It is not a lengthy book but one with those verses that make you say “What’s Up With That.”
In verse 1 we see the pronoun we which indicates Luke who is the author of Acts has returned to the missionary journey with Paul.
Paul is treated well by Julius and he is allowed to visit friends in Sidon. Paul was not some great criminal; his only crime is belief in the gospel, and for teaching it like he really believed the gospel. Many Christians never get in trouble because we believe the gospel is good enough for ourselves, but we really do not believe it is the only way. Today in the USA you are a radical Christian if you believe Jesus is the only way, and you take the scripture literally.
The ship sets sail during a time of the year that most ships would not have sailed. It was those winter months where storms could develop at any time. Sure enough a storm did come and the ship was being tossed in the violent storm. Paul gave advice against this trip but the owners of the vessel would not listen to Paul. After many days in the storm Paul clears his voice and declares in verse 21, you should have listened to me. Godly men following God’s Word should always be listened to. Paul again declares to those on the ship that an angel talked with him and everyone will be okay. But we must run the ship aground on a certain island. I guess it was an answer to prayer, but why not just calm the storm instead of just striving to calm me in the storm? Jump down to verse 31, Paul sees the sailors about to abandon ship, and he warns them that unless you stay in the ship you cannot be saved. Paul advises everyone to eat for they would need their strength for the ship wreck will happen soon. All 276 people on board where encouraged and broke bread with Paul. They found a beach to run aground and everyone was saved alive.
The thought of God directing in the storm is very important. God could have stopped the storm but He chose to direct them in the storm. Because there may be storms in our life does not mean God has abandoned us. Secondly, they had to remain in the boat! We have to remain in the promises of God even when the storms of life come. We must remain under the umbrella of God’s Word and ride out the storm to be saved alive. Thirdly, we must live in the storm. Live and be encouraged by breaking bread with one another. Now you can see how Baptist Paul was, in the middle of a storm a fellowship dinner breaks out. They all landed safely because they listened to the words of God given to them through Paul. Are you living in the promises of God? Come back into the boat and do not let the difficulties of life push you away from God’s truth.
We are praying for the storms of life to be few and brief, and for your faith to be strong as you hold onto the promises of God’s ship.
Comments are closed