Today's Word
"9 By now we had passed the autumn equinox, so it would be stormy weather from now on through the winter, too dangerous for sailing, Paul warned . . . . . no sooner were we out to sea than a gale-force wind, the infamous nor'easter, struck. . . . the ship was a cork in a storm. . . . just when we were about to give up, Paul spoke up, '. . . We could have avoided all this trouble and trial. But there's no need to dwell on that now. From now on, things are looking up! I can assure you that there'll not be a single drowning among us, although I can't say as much for the ship—the ship itself is doomed.'" Acts 27:9-22 (paraphrase)
Today's Reflection
Having been shipwrecked 3 times before this, Paul knew that sailing in October could be disastrous. By now it was early October and Paul had warned the ship’s captain not to sail, but he did so anyway. The result was predictable.
However, just at the worst moment Paul asserted his leadership, spoke words of optimism and faith, “rallied the troops", and indeed, the ship was lost but all human life was saved.
Pastor Warren Wiersbe once wrote, “A crisis does not make a person; a crisis shows what a person is made of, and it tends to bring true leadership to the fore”. This crisis brought godly leadership to the fore in the person of Paul. He had had lots of experience in trusting God in crises. His life had been spent telling everyone he could about the God before whom no situation is irredeemable. And now he puts his faith to the test and enlists the others on the ship in his belief that God would save them.
You may not have the spiritual gift of leadership, however you do have a God before whom the worst thing is never the last thing. And you can speak up and express that, no matter how bad the circumstances are. Your circumstances may not turn out as well as Paul’s, but each of us must remember that salvation from a shipwreck is not the greatest thing. It is salvation in through and after death that trumps all evil.
Prayer
“Lord, help me to speak words of life and faith and optimism into all situations. I don’t feel like much of a leader but speaking in a way that is founded on the resurrection and restoration of all things and the ultimate triumph of God in his new creation is a kind of leadership that those around me need to hear. Use my words, Lord, to build hope and faith where it’s needed most. In Jesus’ Name. Amen”
God has been leading me to Acts for a few days now during my quiet times and nothing was really being revealed until this. During times of crisis and trial it is tempting for me to change who I am to suit what I think other people want to see. But as Pastor Warren said, "A crisis does not make a person; a crisis shows what a person is made of..." I am made of the things of you, Lord, and please help me to live that.
ReplyDeleteIt helps me to be optimistic when I focus on God and His will, and not on my own temporary circumstances:
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 5
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Colossians 3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
A really big life principle here for at verse 8 Scripture says that the ship, Paul & crew were in a place called "Fair Haven" and that Paul urged them to stay there (v 10). Next the fateful words, "But the centurion (the leader) was more persuaded" by the helmsman, the owner and the majority of the crew to leave "Fair Haven" to sail to Phoenix, a city of pleasure. "Supposing they had obtained their desires" they set sail towards Pheonix and ran in to a "tempestous headwind" and then diaster. Principle? Well, when we are in our own "Fair Haven", we must listen to God's Word & spokespersons, never follow the majority or seek our own "desires" . . . otherwise, diaster looms.
ReplyDelete