“...I
have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Acts
27:25
On his way to Rome,
Paul - and 276 others - were shipwrecked.
I can think
of three important lessons from their story.
First, that we must listen to
God. If we don’t, we’ll experience heartache and loss: ‘...Paul
had warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and
bring great loss”…
But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said,
followed the advice of the pilot and… the majority decided that we should sail
on...’ (Acts 27:9-12 NIV).
Notice, being in the majority doesn’t make somebody right.
Who are we listening to?
Do they know God? Are they walking by faith or by human
reasoning? Jesus said, ‘...he who receives whomever I
send receives Me’ (John 13:20 NKJV).
Second, that
the purposes of God
will always overcome the plans of men and women.
God can actually make mistakes work for our good. Through
this shipwreck Paul landed on Malta and introduced the Gospel to its people.
Instead of beating ourselves up over mistakes, or arguing about who’s right and
who’s wrong, try to see the hand of God in it.
Especially when we are placed in situations beyond our doing, then be certain that the Lord is at work in it.
Especially when we are placed in situations beyond our doing, then be certain that the Lord is at work in it.
Finally, whatever we’ve lost, God can restore
it. ‘[The people of Malta] honoured us in many ways and when we
were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed’ (Acts 28:10
NIV).
Don’t limit God. He will use people to bless us - people we
haven’t even met yet.
Let’s be
encouraged;
God will bring you through!