The Book of Acts ~ Study Seventy-Six

"Rescued"


Acts 27:27-44 (NLT) About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.
   Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
   Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—all 276 of us who were on board.  After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.
   When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
   The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.

Wow! What a frightening time for those on this ship. Can you imagine the sound of the ship as ran aground on the rocks and the force of the waves being so strong they broke apart the ship. Many things were happening on the ship before this happened. The crew tried to escape on lifeboats, Paul caught them and told Julius the centurion that they would die if everyone didn't stay onboard, so he stopped them. The centurion had the lifeboats cut and set out to sea. Paul encouraged others to eat because they hadn't been eating for weeks. First Paul prayed and set the example by taking the first bite. As the ship ran aground and broke apart, the soldiers wanted to kill all the prisoners for fear they would escape when they got to shore, but Julius stopped them for Paul's sake. Every man for himself. Some who could swim swam to shore and the others grabbed ahold of whatever they could and drifted into shore. What a nightmare.

Each of us is on a ship called "life."  I hope that's not too corny, but it fits doesn't it? Some seek their own way out of situations and others see God and His will. Paul kept drawing Julius the centurion back to staying on the ship instead of bailing. He set the example to pray first, then eat and then trust. This was a totally foreign concept to these Romans. They believed in one's own strength and finding it within. Paul was living his life totally dependent on God and His mercy. Look what happened. Julius listened to Paul instead of the sailors and soldiers and did what he told him to do. Everyone made it to shore safely.

How are you "making it to shore?" Are you depending on your own strength? Or are you depending on the strength of the One who can save you body, soul and mind?

Psalm 39:3-5 (NLT) The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.
   You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

King David realized how short life is and that God has our days numbered. I don't really know how that works but its by faith that I trust that He does know how long I will be on this earth. If my days are numbered then why don't I trust in the One who numbered them? Both David and Paul, born centuries apart trusted in God to carry them through to their end on this earth.

Psalm 90:12 (NLT) Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Once we realize who holds the amount of time we have on earth in His hands then we can make the most of our time here. Life is too short to waste it on trying to figure life out on our own. God has a plan and purpose for each of us. He desires for us to choose Him and live this brief life fully and to be taken home to Him to live eternally fully fulfilled in every way possible.

What are some of your fears of life and death? Are you willing to let go and let God have full rule and reign?

Look at how Paul encouraged each person to eat. First he blessed the food, tore apart the bread and took a bite. Everyone was encouraged by this and followed suit. It's not unlike those of us who are already Christians. Our lives are examples to those seeking safety and rescue. When we openly trust God with everything, others will see and hopefully follow the example. Know this for certain ~ others are watching you. If they don't see you trusting in the God you profess then they will lose faith as well.

1 Corinthians 4:1-3 (CEV) Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself.

In a letter Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth he stated what he felt his role as an apostle was. It is not any different from the role we, as Christ followers, should be like. We are servants of Christ and each of us is assigned work to be done on behalf of His Kingdom. Our "first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for." Are you faithful? Whenever we act or speak we must ask ourselves this question, "Am I faithful to Jesus?" When we live this way, it shouldn't matter what others' opinions are. This includes our opinion of ourselves. All that matters is what Christ thinks and His love, compassion and mercy never fails.

When the ship broke apart some people swam because they knew how. Others rode on planks and debris to shore. How do we get to freedom and safety in Christ? We don't do it alone, we ride on His strong shoulders. He carries us home. He lifts us out of the salty brine and lays us on the soft sand in warmth. He feeds us and heals us. He binds up our wounds and gives us eternal hope.

How do you plan to finish out your life? Are you swimming on your own, struggling just to keep your head above water? Or are you holding on to a flimsy piece of driftwood, hanging on for dear life? I encourage you to hold on the Master. He alone can get us to true safety in this life and into the next.

Colossians 1:11-14 (NLT) We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

I leave you with this passage from Colossians. It is my prayer for you as it was for Paul to the Colossian church. Be strengthened by Jesus. Allow Him to fill you with joy. Thank Him, because, if you belong to Him, He enables you to live the life you have inherited from Him. Friend, He has and will rescue those who place their trust in Him. We have been given freedom and forgiveness of sins because He paid the ultimate price for us. Praise Your Holy Name ~ Jesus.