Acts 27:37-44 

³⁷Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. ³⁹When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. ⁴¹But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

⁴²The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

Psalm 23

What is your favorite chapter in the Bible? Have you ever taken seriously and practically the personal application of Psalm 23?

¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ²He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

David declared in Psalm 23 his personal and practical experience with God. It was not known if David dreamed to become rich or king. With no idea about kingship, David turned out to be the greatest king of the united kingdom of Israel by God’s grace.

Do all situations, good or bad, have been arranged by God to shape us into the kind of person He has planned us to be? In Jeremiah 29:11-13, ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Christ promised fullness of life. How can you be certain that His promise applies to you? In midst of trials, have you find hope in the Lord’s promises?  Two things to remember when the Lord declares something: To seek help and hope in Him.

1.  Help

³⁷Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

According to Bible pundits, the number 276, those who sailed with Paul was recorded to make a point that not one man was missing, and that everyone was accounted for, just as the Lord has declared through Paul. When they ate and satisfied, it confirmed that they were alive. When they throw their merchandize into the sea, it was what Paul warned them in v.8 &10, ⁸We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens…  ¹⁰“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”

Paul did not just give advice out of observation. Paul saw a possible disaster and coming to Fair Havens was not an accident. The strong wind led them there. The pilot and the ship owner saw wasted time for business. The majority agreed sail and move on.

How do perceive when the Lord gives warning? Be prayerful! Seek the help of the Holy Spirit to discern what step should be made when things become uncertain.

³⁹When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

In the midst of storm, a sandy beach is very attractive sight. They planned to run the ship aground. They did not mind if the ship would be destroyed as long as they come ashore and live. It would have been better choice to stay in Fair Havens because they knew the place.  It was too late to change their mind. They experienced disaster and lost everything including the ship and their cargoes just as Paul declared.

Covet

When God gave the 10 commandments, more instructions were about what not to do. The spirit-filled mind would agree that God’s commands were designed not for His benefit but for the obedient to enjoy life on earth. It says in Exodus 20:17, ¹⁷“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The word covet is generally understood as desiring to acquire or take away something from neighbor. The literal translation of covet from the Greek manuscript was to desire or take pleasure of anything that belongs to a neighbor, not necessarily to take away, steal or grab. Do desire and envy anything that belongs to a neighbor similar?

It says in v.9, ⁹Much time has been lost… That implies delay of business transaction not favorable to ship owner. Most business-minded people want to have more.

In James 3:14-16, ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

To have more is better than to have nothing. But as Christian we should find hope in the Lord rather than in material things. Hope in God is exhibited in how we face trials.

2.  Hope

 ⁴¹But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

Do you get angry if someone reminds your disastrous decisions? You’re not alone. Not so many people can easily swallow their failure after rejecting a favorable warning. The pilot and the ship owner were expert sailors and Paul was just an ordinary passenger.

Paul’s warning happened just as he told them because the Holy Spirit revealed it to him Pray seriously that you may discern when the Holy Spirit speaks or tells you something.

 ⁴²The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

The soldiers were scared of the repercussion. In those times, when a prisoner escaped, the guard would be punished by death. The centurion was very kind, though. He ordered what he deemed to be for the best of everybody. Did God’s intervene?

How can we keep our hope in the Lord? Pray and ask God to give you stronger hope. Whatever may happen, similar or different from our personal plan or dreams, God has the best design for each of us.

Have you ever come to the level of your spiritual life where you won’t worry about your material needs because you know that God would take care of your needs?

Epaphroditus

Paul said in Philippians 2:25, ²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

The Philippians were God’s instruments to supply what Paul needed. Paul’s missionary journey was a sequence of exhibits of God’s grace. God let Paul endured difficulties and provided a way out. In 2 Timothy 2:11-13, ¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Paul advised what he has experienced practically and personally. How simple is it to practice in our life what Paul advised? It takes much faith and inspiration of Christ’s Spirit. God knows how much difficulty we can endure. God would challenge our faith according to our spiritual growth. When problems become hard, He gives us solutions.

If you have heard God’s challenge for you to join the short-term missions, you sure will sense some kind of discouragement. What may happen in the mission field? You have no idea what awaits you abroad. You would surely miss your friends, relatives, or regular activities during summer.

King David declared his hope in the Lord in Psalm 91:9-11, ⁹If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, ¹⁰no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. ¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…

Like Paul, David had gone through many trials and struggles. He personally experienced what he wrote. Wherever we are situated, if God is with us, we’ve got nothing to fear.

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