Acts 27:39-44

Summary retelling of Acts 27:39-44

As the crew of the ship looked out for a place to make landfall, they saw an island that they did not recognize.  The saw that it did have a beach, so they tried to aim for the shore and run the ship aground in as favorable place as possible.  They undid all the lashings that they had done several days prior in order to keep the ship together.  This way, they could steer the ship accordingly.  The ship struck a reef and the water lodged the ship fast.  The waves began t tear the ship apart.  The Roman soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, but the centurion stopped them because of Paul and his words.  He ordered anyone who could swim to jump into the water and make for the beach.  Everyone else was to grab onto wood from the shipwreck and let it carry them into the beach.  Everyone on the ship made it safely to the shore as God promised.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Amazingly, the people on the ship seem to be able to act with clarity of thought and a purpose.  Don’t forget that yesterday the focus was on Paul’s witness to them through a communion-like meal.  Paul displays Jesus Christ to the people on the ship and they immediately begin to stop acting rashly and begin to act according to a greater plan.  We should never doubt God’s ability to come among us use the people around us for His glory.

Why is it easy to overlook the influence of God?  Have you ever been in a situation where people acted more rationally than they should have?

Second Thought:

The sailors intentionally drove the ship towards the beach, knowing that it would likely destroy the ship on a reef.  Sometimes in life the things that we think keep us safe must be destroyed so that we can truly go forward in God’s plan.  The sailors had to be willing to destroy the ship in order to get close to the promised safety of the beach.

Why is it hard to let go of things in our life that have served us well?  What do we call things in our life that served us well but because of our continued dependence upon them they eventually become an obstacle to what God is trying to do with us?

Third Thought:

Everyone is saved.  God’s promise is fulfilled.  God keeps His Word.  When God promises salvation, He does not disappoint.

How can this story speak to you and your need for salvation?  How does this story give you confidence that you will also be able to be saved by God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 28:1-6