In today’s passage, we read of the troublesome conditions Paul and his shipmates experienced on their way to Rome. From troubles with the weather and waters to issues with others aboard the ship, the men’s hope of survival was fading quickly. Even still, Paul believed in God’s promise to keep him safe on his mission to proclaim the gospel in that great city.
What lessons about perseverance can we glean from this passage? How does God reveal His faithfulness to His people throughout their time aboard this dangerous ship?
So much seemed to be working against Paul in these passages. To begin with, the purpose of this trip was to appeal to the highest powers in the Roman courts against his unfair arrest and condemnation from the Jewish elite. It was in these dire circumstances that God revealed he would safely arrive to proclaim the gospel there. However, the esteemed apostle and his shipmates were not met with smooth sailing.
They battled terrible conditions from all sides—stormy winds that wouldn’t cooperate, brutal winter weather that wouldn’t let up, an inability to eat for days on end, and no means of securing direction from the sun or stars. Some of the sailors had even plotted an escape from this dire situation at hand, hopelessly believing they could not be saved from their circumstances.
Through it all, Paul took on a leadership role on the ship, giving advice as to how they could avoid great loss by not going forward from Crete as planned. Although the men didn’t listen, Paul was later able to give other encouragement to his peers, sharing with them the words that an angel had spoken to him: “Don’t be afraid.” Paul trusted in His Savior Jesus to continue the work and mission He had begun in the apostle’s life and knew that God could be trusted.
Consider all the things working against Paul in just this chapter alone. Then, reflect on the God who had revealed His great plans for the apostle. Pray for God to grant the same miraculous gift of faith to you and to your group as you relay this incredible story of God’s faithfulness, no matter the storm.
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