"For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."
Acts 27:23-25
If you haven't read the Paul shipwreck story in this chapter, it is a good one. :) I like this set of verses not just because it is a good example of faith, which it is, but because Paul believes God even when all other pieces of evidence are screaming that they are doomed. They had lost all hope several verses before this, and then an angel comes and tells Paul not to worry... and he tells the rest of the people on the boat (over 200) not to worry... that they would all live and be fine, but they would lose the ship. Now if you are in an ocean with water everywhere, the last thing you want to hear is that your only safety, the ship, is going to be gone... but they were slightly encouraged, and listened to what Paul said, because he was the one with hope. :) Two things: first, wouldn't it be cool to always be the one with hope to offer? And secondly, how many times does the Lord tell us that things are going to be alright... we'll lose the ship but not our lives, and we don't listen because we don't find the answer acceptable? We want the ship AND our lives, and you know, if we have to choose... probably the ship. :) We're kind of scary like that sometimes. We have this obsessive need for the familiar, for the known. So, when God tells us that we'll be fine, we just have to experience a little of the unknown, we panic. Sure, God says it is better, and so maybe it is... maybe it is all fun and games, but really... I'd rather just stay here. The unknown is frightening. :) The thing is, what amazing things are we passing up sitting huddled in the ship, trying to pretend we aren't going to crash? Are we barricading the door against the greatest things that life has to offer? Today, maybe we can let go of the ship, and look forward to the life that we have been granted... wherever it takes us next.
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."
Acts 27:23-25
If you haven't read the Paul shipwreck story in this chapter, it is a good one. :) I like this set of verses not just because it is a good example of faith, which it is, but because Paul believes God even when all other pieces of evidence are screaming that they are doomed. They had lost all hope several verses before this, and then an angel comes and tells Paul not to worry... and he tells the rest of the people on the boat (over 200) not to worry... that they would all live and be fine, but they would lose the ship. Now if you are in an ocean with water everywhere, the last thing you want to hear is that your only safety, the ship, is going to be gone... but they were slightly encouraged, and listened to what Paul said, because he was the one with hope. :) Two things: first, wouldn't it be cool to always be the one with hope to offer? And secondly, how many times does the Lord tell us that things are going to be alright... we'll lose the ship but not our lives, and we don't listen because we don't find the answer acceptable? We want the ship AND our lives, and you know, if we have to choose... probably the ship. :) We're kind of scary like that sometimes. We have this obsessive need for the familiar, for the known. So, when God tells us that we'll be fine, we just have to experience a little of the unknown, we panic. Sure, God says it is better, and so maybe it is... maybe it is all fun and games, but really... I'd rather just stay here. The unknown is frightening. :) The thing is, what amazing things are we passing up sitting huddled in the ship, trying to pretend we aren't going to crash? Are we barricading the door against the greatest things that life has to offer? Today, maybe we can let go of the ship, and look forward to the life that we have been granted... wherever it takes us next.
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