Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. {Acts 27:9-11}
So here they are. Paul and his shipmates are on their way to Rome to bring Paul to Caesar Augustus. Paul felt compelled to plead for his life before Caesar, and against the Jews who were calling for his death in Jerusalem. He didn’t feel safe anymore to go back to Jerusalem, so he told Festus the governor that he’d rather stand before Caesar than be judged in Jerusalem. Since Paul was Roman by birth, Festus could do nothing but grant Paul’s request. So here they are on the ship with other prisoners heading for Rome when the weather starts to look bleak and uncertain. Paul felt in his spirit that it’s going to get worse and warned them not to continue. But nobody listens to him. Sure enough the weather gets worse and they encounter a cyclonic wind called Euroclydon. Soon they are being tossed to and fro by the waves and they begin throwing things overboard into the sea to lighten their load. They don’t see the sun for days, and start to feel helpless and hopeless. Just when they had given up all hope in comes Paul basically telling them, “I told you so.” But then he encourages them. He tells them,
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. 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 27:21-25}
I can’t help but think this is the beauty in abiding in Christ always, because you get comfort and assurances that you won’t get anywhere else when things go bad. He gives you peace that passes man’s understanding. How many times have I encountered storms in my life and the Lord has been there for me telling me, “Cheer up! All is well.” Those words alone let me know that everything is going to be all right. They bring me peace. Sure enough, things do turn out well and He works everything out for me. The Lord is faithful. He has not failed me when over and over again I call upon Him in time of trouble and in time of my afflictions. He is always there. He is so good.
He will never fail us. When we’re always talking to Him, committing everything to Him, even when it’s nothing serious at all like asking Him to guide us what to wear or what to cook for dinner, or whether or not we should go out on a date with a friend. When things go haywire and serious in our lives we don’t have to panic to try to get an answer from Him. We can stay at peace because we know He will answer us, because we’ve experienced Him answer us when things were well. Daily abiding with the Lord is simply that: abiding, staying with Him, talking to Him all the time. Merriam Webster defines abiding as “continuing for a long time – enduring.” Apostle Paul knew how to abide with the Lord, to stay connected with Him. So much so that whether he was up or whether he was down, he knew how to stay content. He knew how to stay happy and encouraged because his strength and peace of mind did not come from his own intellect, it came from the Lord. Surely, the Lord hasn’t changed. If He was there for apostle Paul, He will be here for us too even now in our present age, because He is faithful. He told us in His word that He will never leave us nor forsake us, that He will be there for us until the end. If we learn to talk to the Lord all the time, committing every thought to Him, bringing Him into our lives by always asking Him for His opinion in our decision making whether big or small, we too will have the contentment that Apostle Paul talked about in His writings. We too will find our strength and our peace of mind in the Lord as Paul found his when things weren’t going well. The key thing is in always abiding in Jesus Christ and keeping our minds and our thoughts on Him, always talking to Him and always praising and loving Him. Without Him we can do nothing.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. {Isaiah 26:3}
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. {Philippians 4:13}
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. {Philippians 4:11}
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. {John 15:7}
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {John 15:5}
Prayer
Oh, Father, how wonderful it is that You are faithful and never changes. I thank You Lord Jesus that You are the same yesterday, today and will be forever. I thank You that You are our God who is merciful and full of compassion, who will never leave us nor forsake us.
Father, I pray Lord Jesus, that You will bless us today with more faith in You – faith in Your love every day and every moment, to give us confidence to commit every thought of our hearts to You. There is nothing too little or too big with You. We can definitely bring all things to Your attention because You love to hear from us. Help us to abide in You all the time, talking to You and committing every thought to You. Give us Your peace that passes man’s understanding in this troubled world today. We love You Jesus. I pray these things in Your most wonderful and precious name, Jesus. Thank You Father. Amen.
