Acts 27: 13 When a gentle south wind
began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed
along the shore of Crete. 14 Before
very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down
from the island. 15 The
ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way
to it and were driven along. 16 As
we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to
make the lifeboat secure, 17 so
the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold
it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the
sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven
along. 18 We
took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to
throw the cargo overboard. 19 On
the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for
many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being
saved.
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When the thug put
the gun down, I was scared and relieved. He walked away laughing as it was not
really a gun, but a cigarette lighter shaped like a gun. Still, I thought “What
if I got shot?” “What if I got killed?” “What if this was my last day?”
- There have been times when I did not see what was important.
- There have been times when I carried useless anger, hatred and worries around.
- There have been times when I thought I was going to die, so nothing else was important other than survival.
Luke continues to
document the treacherous trip. A hurricane tossed the ship around with ease.
The experts tried everything within their knowledge to keep the ship and the
cargo together to no avail.
They soon
realized the cargo was not important as their lives so they threw it overboard.
This was not enough. They had to tear down parts of the ship that made them
money, namely the cranes to load the ship.
- GOD allows storms in my life to grow me.
- GOD allows storms in my life to force me to throw away unimportant things.
- GOD allows storms in my life to show me where I really place my hope, but gives me a way to see I need HIM.
When life is
really easy and I have plenty, it seems like I don’t cry out to GOD for help as
much. I mean, I may mumble “Thank you” in a prayer here and there. But I also
mumble “forgive me” as I fall into the sins of wealth.
GOD allowed
storms in my life that seemed to last for years. Day after day, the worries of
life would beat on me. I felt like giving up. BUT GOD showed me where to place
my hope. The HOLY SPIRIT said “In the middle of the storm, praise GOD.” I did
this and the storm felt less scary. I am thankful GOD is there with me in the
storm.
- Are you going through a long period where things are going wrong?
- Do you feel like giving up?
- Will you place your hope in JESUS, because HE is there with you, feeling your pain and knowing how HE will deliver you if you place your trust in HIM today?
