Summer At Sea: Week 12 Day 6

Acts 27:21-26

21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Paul had remained just one of the prisoners on this fateful ship until he spoke up in Acts 27:10, when he shared his discernment that the ship would not survive. Since the centurion decided not to listen to Paul, they sailed right into the worst of the storm as he predicted. They were without food for many days when Paul once again spoke up; this time they seemed to listen. 

Discernment is a wonderful thing. God wants us to know His Word and share it; He even gives to some the ability to read a situation and understand the steps to take. The centurion and the crew on the ship now recognized that Paul was someone special and very wise. God allowed Paul to share that they would not be lost, but I think the best part of Paul’s message was when he shared about how great his God is. I wonder how many lives were changed that day when they realized what the true God could do? 

We too need to be aware of and use the gifts that God has given us. Who knows how many lives might be forever changed because we were faithful.