Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 May 8

“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. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away” (Acts 27:9-20).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about the storms of life is they will wear you down and cause you to lose hope if you focus on them long enough.  Luke said that they encountered a major storm on the way to Rome; and after many days when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.  When you are in the storm of life and you cannot see any light for your situation and circumstance, it’s easy to lose hope.  But as Paul told the Hebrews, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 10:35-11:1).   Let me encourage you, don’t let the storm steal your faith, faith is your life preserver. He’s an on time God.  Just ask Job.

Sing:  He’s an on-time God, yes, He is.  He’s an on-time God, yes, He is.  He may come when you want Him, but He’ll be there right on time.  He’s an on-time God, yes, He is.   

You can ask the children of Israel, trapped at the Red Sea, by that mean old Pharaoh and his army.  The water all around them, and Pharaoh at their back, but out of nowhere, God stepped in and made a highway just like that. 

Thought For Today:  Faith is always your life preserver.