The Storm

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 12, 2021

The Storm

Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.

Acts 27:14

Read: Acts 27:13-32       

The message of the Lord to Paul that we read in Acts 23:11 was; ““Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” I think there is a tendency to expect Paul would have been flowing in God’s favor, with God’s provision providing all he needed. A metaphor of traveling down life’s highway as if we were on an Interstate with cruise control comes to mind. But that is certainly not what Paul experienced. As we have been reading, Paul languished in jail for years.

Then, as we read today, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (v.20) That was Luke and the others who gave up all hope of being saved. Not Paul.

Paul’s response was different, “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” (v.22) Paul could make that assertion because God was still leading and speaking to him. God had a plan for Paul, and He was going to see it through to its conclusion in Rome.

My Takeaway: Paul was a prisoner. Yet he was the leader on this ship in the time of crisis. No matter where we are, no matter our circumstances, as followers of Jesus, God can and will use us to further His Kingdom.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.