Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/9 Reading Portions: Ruth 2; Acts 27; Jeremiah 37; Psalm 10
Acts 27:25
“So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
STEADFAST
In the incredible providence of almighty Christ, Paul, having appealed to Caesar a few years after his arrest, was sent to Rome via the sea. The ship he was aboard sailed westward and around the southern coast of Crete in mid-autumn, after the Day of Atonement (Acts 27:9). Therefore, the winds were contrary, and the seas, hazardous (Acts 27:14). The sea state worsened, causing desperation in the crew. Paul spoke out and told them to take heart since an angel of God assured Paul that he must stand before Caesar (Acts 27:21-24). The ship carried Paul, Luke, and 274 other persons (Acts 2:37); and though the ship ran aground on a reef and was destroyed, not a soul of their number was lost.
You and I may never experience an angel actually giving us a message. Nevertheless, we do have God’s personal words from His living and unbroken Word, the Bible. Jesus promised His disciples He would never leave or forsake them (Matt 28:20; Heb 13:5) and therefore, you and I, as His disciples, can count on Christ’s supply and supervision regardless of our situation or circumstance (Phil 4:19). It may not be what we want at the time. It may not be what we think we need. Nonetheless, it will be what is truly required— what is the very best— in order to get us through whatever we are facing so we may give God all the glory.
Storms will arise in our lives, yet it is not our removal from the storm which comforts us, but the presence of the Comforter who strengthens our faith. We may not have a personal word spoken to us by an angel; yet we have the more sure, steadfast, and prophetic Word of Scripture (2 Pet 1:19). Shipwrecks will also occur, yet resting by faith upon the gospel truth of Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:2) will be as planks or ship pieces to us so we may grab them in order to paddle safely to heaven’s shore (Acts 27:44). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The promises of God are sure,
Steadfast for it’s Christ’s Word:
Crooked now straight, corrupt now pure,
For from Christ’s side blood was pour’d.
