“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed, That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” – (Psalm 27: 13-14).
Those who follow “Day by Day with Jesus” Daily Devotionals” will recalll how yesterday we saw Apostle Paul warning the centurion, ship owner and captain not to proceed with a dangerous journey only to be ignored, which all ended in disaster (Acts 27)! Today we see another aspect of Paul’s final journey that can speak to any of us.
As the storm raged on (vv18) everyone in the ship was down with worry. Around 60 AD travelling on the high seas was rudimentary, relying much on Mother Nature. There were no compasses and life jackets. The 276 passengers on board, their ship battered by the savage winds, despaired and feared that all hope was gone. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (vv 20).
But in all there was one man who was not as worried. Paul had already heard from God that all lives would be saved. Seeing everyone distraught with worry and fearing imminent death, he decided to cheer them up. “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me” (verse 23-25).
Here is the point. In a time of great distress Paul asked all the sailors not to despair but have faith that God would deliver them. Today as back then there are storms raging all around us. There are financial storms caused by economic disruptions. There are storms in relationships that are disintegrating. There are storms from personal loss. Yet, just as then, God is speaking to us not to despair, and that all will end well. Calm down for everythig is fine.
This is not a bluff. After Paul had delivered his message of hope he told the ship captain to look for a ground to land. And unlike the last time the captain listened. And all the 276 lives were saved! Your situation is no less important to God who will in the course of time bring deliverance.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth., today, just as was then with storms raging you gave a message of hope and lives were saved and so here I pray that I look up to you in the midst of storms raging around me, that you will deliver me and all around to safety, because of the faith in Christ Jesus, all this I pray in His holy name.
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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
