SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/26/2018
11:37 PM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “The
Storm”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts
27:13-26
Message of the verses: “13 When a moderate
south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they
weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. 14
But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called
Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was
caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and
let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called
Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17
After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the
ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis,
they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18
The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison
the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with
their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no
small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved
was gradually abandoned.
21 When they had gone a long time without
food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, "Men, you ought to have
followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage
and loss. 22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will
be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 “For this very
night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24
saying, ’Do not be afraid, Paul; you
must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing
with you.’ 25 “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it
will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 “But we must run aground on a
certain island."”
We
begin by looking at verse 18 where we see that the crew took more provisions to
keep the ship from sinking as they got rid of the cargo, and then in verse 19
we see that they threw the ships tackle overboard with their own hands. John MacArthur points out that the word “we”
is used in throwing the ships tackle overboard showing that Paul and the others
helped out.
Verse
twenty tells us that they had lost all hope of being rescued or getting to
land, and so it was a depressing journey from this point on.
We
mentioned at the beginning of our comments on chapter 27 about the leadership
that Paul had and he showed it beginning at verse 21 through verse 26. We see that Paul stood up and talked to those
on board that an angel from the Lord came and spoke to him telling him that God
had given all on board to Paul; however the ship would be destroyed when it
came upon an island and the rocks would tear it to pieces. In verse 22 we see that Paul tells them to
keep up their courage. Paul was
encouraging them to be courageous and when this was said to these people from
Paul it was like he was pouring courage into them. Paul was good at this as this was part of what
a good leader does.
Now
the stage was set for the dramatic conclusion of this ill-fated voyage and we
will see the fulfillment of God’s promises that were made to Paul from the
voice of the angel that God sent to Paul.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: It is nice to have someone encourage you when
trouble surround you, someone like Paul would be a good choice, or reading
something from the Word of God and then that brings encouragement to you.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I am thankful that the Lord has encouraged me
to get this SD done even though it has happened very late in the day.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Ezra and Nehemiah.”
Today’s Bible question: “Why could not the Israelites drink of the
waters of Marah?”
Answer in our next SD.
9/26/2018 11:58 PM
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