ACTS 27:18-25 – Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 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. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 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.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WHEN ALL LOOKS BAD, IT ISN’T. So, let’s imagine being part of the crew on the ill-fated ship in today’s scripture. Storm-tossed and exhausted with the sky showing no signs of the storm letting up, the crew was done. They started to jettison everything over the side, and simply waited to be swallowed up in the rough seas. Then all of a sudden, a prisoner stands up and says, “I told you not to leave port. I knew it wouldn’t go well on this cruise, but you wouldn’t listen to me. Now look. Our ship is coming apart at the seams and all looks hopeless.” But the prisoner now turned leader of the ship changes tune. The Apostle Paul said, “Don’t give up. Don’t worry. We are going to make it. All of us.” And before the skeptics could weigh in, he said, “For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 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.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
There are three lessons for us from this account. The first one is obvious. As Christians, never judge God’s dealing with us by circumstances. We trust the God of our circumstances. Who sent the storm? God. Who would protect the crew and the Apostle Paul? God. Who didn’t control the storm? The crew and the Apostle Paul. Who would protect the crew and the Apostle Paul? Not them. Friends, we control nothing or no one and when things look bad, we are interpreting them through our circumstances and inability to control things and people. Let’s stop trying to do the impossible. We trust the God of our circumstances.
Another lesson is from the Apostle Paul. He modeled faith and courage. When we are facing tough trials and circumstances, seek the company and advice from more seasoned and mature Christians; the type who have weathered storms before and found God faithful. We need each other and especially in hard times.
The final lesson is trust God’s promises when all looks bad and the opposite of what His promises say. The Apostle Paul said to the crew, “I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” He looked beyond the circumstances to the God of his circumstances making God’s promises the lens by which he interpreted things. And so must we. We live by promises, not circumstances.
So, when all looks bad, it isn’t. God is still in charge and in control. Believe and rest in Him.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see beyond my circumstances to Your unfailing promises despite my circumstances.”
QUOTE: “Don’t judge God’s dealings with us according to our circumstances but according to His character and Word.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim