Reading Plan:
Acts 27


Our Thoughts:
Have you ever tried to give someone advice but they ignored it only later to wish they had listened? When that happens, it’s easy to want to pull the “I told you so” card. Paul’s response to this kind of situation in Acts 27 is much nobler.

Paul is a prisoner on board a ship headed for Rome. He isn’t really in a position to be giving advice, but as their journey begins to turn dangerous, Paul warns the ship’s officials that choosing to sail on won't be any safer. No one listens, and they make the decision to sail anyway because staying in the harbor poses a threat. As you can probably guess, Paul ends up being right. They quickly find themselves in a hurricane-force storm which leaves them grappling to keep the ship together.

In verse 21, Paul finally gets his chance to hit them with “I told you so.” He tells them that had they taken his advice, they could have been spared the damage and loss they faced. But he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to encourage and reassure them by sharing a vision from God that none of their lives will be lost. In a moment where he could have been smug and arrogant (who would blame him?), Paul chooses grace. Even in despairing circumstances, he takes the high road. Honestly, Paul is a better person than me.

How does any of this apply to us? Through this story, there is plenty to learn from both Paul’s faith and his character.

Let’s look at what started the whole situation—the decision to keep sailing because it seemed the safest. Sometimes God leads us to places in life that seem unsafe. The sailors were right in thinking that the harbor they were in wasn’t safe. However, what they didn’t know was that to keep sailing would be far more dangerous.

Oftentimes obedience to God’s call is scary. When we ignore His leading because it seems unsafe, we find ourselves in a greater storm. Had the sailors listened to Paul’s warning not to sail, the winter may have been hard, but they wouldn’t have endured the havoc and destruction wreaked by the storm.

Thankfully, as we see here, God doesn’t abandon us when we disobey Him. He used this storm to bring the men to Himself. Likewise, He may allow us to go through storms to get our attention, but He is good and will not let us face them alone.

We can also learn from Paul’s character. He was bold in his faith to follow God. This boldness brings him the favor of the Centurion which ultimately saves his life. Because Julius favored Paul, he didn’t allow the soldiers to carry out their plan to kill Paul and the other prisoners.

God calls us to stand firm in our faith and to “live a life worthy of the calling we have received,” (Ephesians 4:1). Even if being bold in our faith causes hardship on earth, we have the hope of eternity in Heaven. Had Paul been quiet about his faith, he would have lost his life and, in turn, his Kingdom impact. Just as he probably never guessed his boldness would save so many lives, we never know how many lives our faith may impact. God had great work for Paul to do, and He does for us too. Will we be bold enough to follow where He calls, even if it is scary or “unsafe?” I never want to miss what God can do because I didn’t give Him the chance.


More Questions:
• When have you taken the “safer” path even though you knew God was leading you a different way?
• When have you held back sharing your faith even though you knew you needed to speak up?
• How can you “live a life worthy of the calling you have received?”


Prayer:
God, help me to always be bold in my faith so that I don’t miss the work you have for my life. Help me to follow the path you call me to even if it seems risky or scary. Let me impact your Kingdom with my faith.


Author: Brooke Warren