"Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land" (Acts 27:36-44).
Today's Morsel: When I was in the army, they taught us many things that we could use for life preservers. They even taught us how to take our shirts and trousers to make life preservers. This is one of the reasons that surfer have a rope tied to their ankles and attached to their surfboards. Their surfboard can serve as a life preserver should they fall off the board while surfing in rough waters. When the ship that Paul and the men who were with him crashed, the Bible says that some of them made it to shore safely on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship. You see, they had already been told by Paul that except they abide in the ship they could not be saved. And because of their obedience to his word, God made a way for them to be saved. Let me encourage you today, you may be going through one of the most terrible storms that you have ever been in in your life. And right about now you are feeling that your ship is about to sink and it is time to bail out. Well, you can make to shore safely if you will just stay in the ship (the church), and God will bring you to your safe haven.
Sing: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more. But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love, lifted, me.
Thought for Today: You can make it if you stay in the ship.
No comments:
Post a Comment