Daily Bread 2011 - Acts 27
The Shipwreck
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 27, we see the exciting voyage at sea of Paul and the other prisoners under the Centurion’s guard. Paul warns the soldiers that they are not going to make it to Italy, but instead of heeding his wisdom, they go with the pilot and owner of the boat ideas. Eventually they are shipwrecked, and if it were not for the leadership of Paul and his assurance that not one of them would be lost; things would have certainly gone a lot worse.
So we can see once again even in the worst circumstances God is with Paul, and using his calamity as a passageway for the gospel to be preached. Paul even urges the 276 on board to eat for they hadn’t eaten in 14 days. Then eat all they can, and then throw the rest overboard as a sign of faith in what Paul is saying. This is quite a good deal of trust given to Paul the prisoner on the boat. Over time he is becoming their leader through God’s wisdom, which so powerfully shines through him. Tomorrow we will see the end of the story but suffice it to say without God working through Paul there is a good chance they all would have perished.
What Does This Mean For Us?
In chapter 8 of Romans (the next book we will study) Paul gives us an incredible verse that is one of the most cited verses from the New Testament. In Romans 8:28-29 Paul makes an audacious claim, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
And we know that in all things God works together for good. That is quite a statement. It is pretty comprehensive. No matter what we see happening in the news or the tragedies we hear happening all around us, can we trust that God can work all things together for good? We see many things happening in Paul life where he is getting something he does not deserve, but at each turn it seems that God is using him in spite of his circumstances.
Importantly we often forget to quote Romans 8:29, and only mention Romans 8:28. The problem is 8:29 is so important for understanding the promise in 8:28. In 28 we see what God does, “God works all things together for good”. And in 29 we see why He allows things to happen to those He loves. I.e. In order for those predestined to be conformed to the image on His Son. We learn from other scriptures that Jesus was perfected in his sufferings and eventually in His going to the cross for our sins.
There are no easy answers when we suffer, and we need to be careful to use this verse glibly. Sometimes rather than having all the answers in black and white for people when they are suffering, it is better to come alongside them and walk through the valley with them. Then on the other side you can affirm see God does work things all together for good.
Jesus, help us to grieve with those who grieve. Suffer with those who suffer, and weep with those who weep, knowing that You do work all things together for good in Your timing and according to Your will for us in Christ Jesus, Amen.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
What Does This Mean?
In chapter 27, we see the exciting voyage at sea of Paul and the other prisoners under the Centurion’s guard. Paul warns the soldiers that they are not going to make it to Italy, but instead of heeding his wisdom, they go with the pilot and owner of the boat ideas. Eventually they are shipwrecked, and if it were not for the leadership of Paul and his assurance that not one of them would be lost; things would have certainly gone a lot worse.
So we can see once again even in the worst circumstances God is with Paul, and using his calamity as a passageway for the gospel to be preached. Paul even urges the 276 on board to eat for they hadn’t eaten in 14 days. Then eat all they can, and then throw the rest overboard as a sign of faith in what Paul is saying. This is quite a good deal of trust given to Paul the prisoner on the boat. Over time he is becoming their leader through God’s wisdom, which so powerfully shines through him. Tomorrow we will see the end of the story but suffice it to say without God working through Paul there is a good chance they all would have perished.
What Does This Mean For Us?
In chapter 8 of Romans (the next book we will study) Paul gives us an incredible verse that is one of the most cited verses from the New Testament. In Romans 8:28-29 Paul makes an audacious claim, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
And we know that in all things God works together for good. That is quite a statement. It is pretty comprehensive. No matter what we see happening in the news or the tragedies we hear happening all around us, can we trust that God can work all things together for good? We see many things happening in Paul life where he is getting something he does not deserve, but at each turn it seems that God is using him in spite of his circumstances.
Importantly we often forget to quote Romans 8:29, and only mention Romans 8:28. The problem is 8:29 is so important for understanding the promise in 8:28. In 28 we see what God does, “God works all things together for good”. And in 29 we see why He allows things to happen to those He loves. I.e. In order for those predestined to be conformed to the image on His Son. We learn from other scriptures that Jesus was perfected in his sufferings and eventually in His going to the cross for our sins.
There are no easy answers when we suffer, and we need to be careful to use this verse glibly. Sometimes rather than having all the answers in black and white for people when they are suffering, it is better to come alongside them and walk through the valley with them. Then on the other side you can affirm see God does work things all together for good.
Jesus, help us to grieve with those who grieve. Suffer with those who suffer, and weep with those who weep, knowing that You do work all things together for good in Your timing and according to Your will for us in Christ Jesus, Amen.
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