and as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go. [acts 27:30-32]
our story is being written by God – but he weaves our actions and the actions of others into every chapter.
paul did not expect the chaos that ensued with this storm when he was told he could leave israel and head to rome. what God had promised – rome – would happened. but a storm would accompany this trip.
all along the way – God used the actions of paul and the actions of a centurion, sailors, and an owner to shape this story. so many were involved in this story. and so many would be impacted in this story.
but ultimately, God was writing this story.
remember …
“for this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom i belong and whom i worship, and he said, ‘do not be afraid, paul; you must stand before caesar. and behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ so take heart, men, for i have faith in God that it will be exactly as i have been told. but we must run aground on some island.” [acts 27:22-26]
many would impact this story – but God was the one who ultimately decided the fate of everyone on board.
this does not mean – each man’s actions did not matter. no – they did.
but God is the one writing the story.
do you believe this truth about your story? why or why not?
what is your struggle with this in your heart?
hear the word of the Lord… and ask him to increase your trust that he is God overall things – over every story.
ask him to increase your trust in the mystery that your actions matter – but he is writing every story.
hear the word(s) of the Lord today…
the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. [proverbs 21:1]
the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. [proverbs 16:9]
the steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. [psalm 37:23-24]
i know, o Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. [jeremiah 10:23]
as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. [genesis 50:20]
the Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. the counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. [psalm 33:10-11]
who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? [lamentations 3:37]
~ john ryan