From: July 10, 2023
“For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.” (Acts 27:23-25 NLT).
The ship taking Paul to Rome for his appeal to Caesar was caught up in a great storm and in danger of sinking. But God sent an angel to encourage Paul that although they would suffer shipwreck, no one on board would drown. All would be saved. Paul encouraged the others on the ship with the word the Lord had given him.
Paul’s three words are encouraging to consider:
1) “Take courage” – Put away fear and find courage in God.
2) “I believe God” – Declare your firm faith in God.
3) “It will be just as he said” – Declare your faith in God’s Word.
Remember these three encouraging words the next time you are facing one of life’s storms.
PRAYER: Lord, we believe in You. So we choose to be strong and courageous in You because You are always with us and never leave us. Help us also to encourage those around us with our firm faith in You and in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 10, 2022
NEITHER SAILOR, NOR SOLDIER, BUT SERVANT OF JESUS
When it appeared that Paul and the 276 people aboard the ship would survive the storm, he and his fellow prisoners were threatened by the soldiers. Yet, even in this, God protected Paul, giving him favor with the commanding officer. The storm, the sailors and the soldiers, all at different times, had threatened Paul’s life, but God intervened every time. Not only did Paul survive, but all 276 passengers did as well.
Many a ship and all aboard have lost their lives in lesser storms on the Mediterranean Sea, but God had called Paul to go to Rome, and to Rome he would go. The way Paul faced the storm and encouraged his fellow passengers, gave him a platform to preach the gospel to all with great credibility.
Paul was neither a sailor nor a soldier, but a servant of Jesus. And because of this, he was given authority to lead the entire ship to safety and offer them even more, namely, eternal life.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have been given power and authority by Your Son, Jesus. Help us to walk in this authority as we face life’s storms and the threats of others. Strengthen us to depend on Your power when ours is waning and gone. Give us influence so that every life in our circle hears the gospel and is saved. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 10, 2016
Paul’s status changed from prisoner to priest and from accused criminal to acting captain as everyone aboard the storm-driven ship began to listen to him. Although others may disregard our Christian testimony or even demean it, when storms come they often turn to the one who knows the Lord. This is what happened to Paul. Both the sailors and the soldiers were encouraged to hear his words.
From: July 10, 2015
The psalmist David wondered at the immensity and beauty of the night sky in comparison to the small stature of humanity. He posed a rhetorical question concerning God’s care for man, then answers it in the psalm with observations about man’s creation and authority under God. We can almost picture David gazing at the night sky and writing this meditation. Putting the words to music, he opened and closed the psalm with praise of God’s majesty. “O Lord, our Lord,” he wrote, moving attention from the great Creator (O Lord) to the personal Redeemer of Israel (our Lord). For the Lord God is both transcendent and immanent. He is omnipotent and holy, yet personal and present. The God who made everything cares for you.
From: July 10, 2014
The psalmist David wondered at the immensity and beauty of the night sky in comparison to the small stature of humanity. He poses a rhetorical question concerning God’s care for man, then answers it in the psalm with observations about man’s creation and authority under God. We can almost picture David gazing at the night sky and writing this meditation. Putting the words to music, he opens and closes the psalm with praise of God’s majesty. “O Lord, our Lord,” he writes, moving his attention from the great Creator (O Lord) to the personal Redeemer of Israel (our Lord). For the Lord God is both transcendent and immanent. He is omnipotent and holy, yet personal and present. The God who made everything cares for you.