The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
September 9, 2008
The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew
began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even threw out the
ship's equipment and anything else they could lay their hands on. The terrible
storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at
last all hope was gone.
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul
called the crew together and said, "Men, you should have listened to me in the
first place and not left Fair Havens. You would have avoided all this injury and
loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship
will go down. 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. But we will be shipwrecked on an island."
Acts
27:18-26
Paul is much nicer than I am. I would probably have been jumping up and down saying, "I told you so!" Yet, Paul the same as told them I told you so, but it was tempered with love.
Paul was a prisoner in route to Rome. He wanted to get there so he could plead his case. As a spirit-filled Believer, Paul knew that if they left Fair Havens and sailed the route these men wanted to go that they would end up shipwrecked. However, he had to submit to them and their way. Even so, God was with them.
Paul's love walk had been tempered by many adversities. He trusted Jesus Christ enough to know that these men needed his prayer and his patience. So, Paul submitted to God and sure enough God proved to these men that Paul walked with God, heard from God, and that God was in control.
Is that where you are? Has God given you a vision or insight for something, but the people around you refuse to listen? Well, you will see your vision fulfilled, but you just might end up shipwrecked in the process. If so, just enjoy the time on the Island and let God take care of the rest. That is what Paul did and some strangers came to trust in God as a result.
The morning that God gave me this scripture I wondered why in the world this scripture? I didn't think too much of it and reached over to read a book I had not looked at for some time, Start Where You Are, by Chuck Swindoll. Now, take a guess what scripture he was writing on! Yep, you are smart. He was writing on today's scripture.
If you feel that your faith is shipwrecked fear not! God is in control. He knows where you are and what you are going through. He is working on your behalf to stretch your love walk. Why not just go ahead and love the people He has you with. You will get to your destination in His time and when you get there you will discover that He has gone before you.
Father, I praise You because You are an "on-time" God. You know the beginning from the end and I know that. So, why do I fret about the small stuff? Help me Lord, I know I don't measure up in the love walk arena, but I'm willing to be stretched. I want out of this wilderness, but if you'll give me an Oasis I believe I can make it!
