TAKE COURAGE
ACTS 27:21-25
ACTS 27:21-25 NKJ
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
It is interesting that the Bible gives us a fairly detailed account of Paul's voyage through the storm.
There are many good lessons we can learn from Paul's storm as we experience the "storms" in our lives.
Paul, who is a prisoner, winds up influencing an entire ship. This would indicate when people are in a storm, they are more inclined to listen to a person with faith. And Paul had faith. Faith that he belonged to God and served God only. Faith that God had granted him the lives of everyone on the ship because he, Paul, had to stand before Caesar. And most of all, faith that things were going to turn out exactly as the angel told him.
And because of Paul's faith in God, he was able to take heart, or courage, himself and lift the spirits of those sailing with him. Isn't it ironic that God saw the people on the ship, not as Paul's captors but people sailing with Paul? Paul’s deliverance from the storm was the deliverance of the entire ship.
APPLICATION
Paul knew his relationship with God, and it gave him confidence. When we know we belong to God and serve God, it gives us confidence in any storm.
When we believe God's written word and the word He whispers to our heart by the Holy Spirit, we are able to take courage. Paul was encouraged before the storm stopped raging and they were safely ashore. He was encouraged by what he believed. When we believe that God will help us and it will all work out, then we are able to smile through the storm and take courage.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am Your child. I belong to You, and I serve You. Thank You for a word from You that I believe and that gives me courage. I believe that things will turn out for my good and Your glory.