The Story - Chapter 30 - Paul's Final Days

HALT is an acronym used in recovery circles to help people recognize when they might be susceptible to relapse. The idea is that if you allow yourself to become too hungry, angry, lonely or tired that relapse is more likely.

Paul knew that his fellow shipmates were hungry and very tired.  The ordeal they had been through left each of them stressed and exhausted.  Scripture points out they hadn't eaten for two weeks.

Acts 27:33 (NIV) 
 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything.

Paul was caring for these men. He assured them they would survive the ordeal. That is what God does for us each time we turn to Him and seek His Word. Paul was a physical presence for these men. They could interact with him and hang on his every word. We have our Bibles to hang on to. The Bible which has God's Words of assurance; His promises of redemption, a shelter in the storms of life.

Matthew 10:30 (NIV)
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

The storms of daily living wash over us and bring pain and suffering, but Jesus has promised if we are faithful He will save us. What clouds are hanging over your head today?  What is rocking the boat so much that you feel you could fall overboard any minute?  Remember the promises and cling to them as if a life raft, for indeed they are.

Read Acts 27:33-44

Listen to Acts 27:33-44

Is Your Life a Shipwreck? - Acts 27:1-44

Sometimes life's difficulties and challenges bring us to the brink of giving up hope?  It does seem that God will often allow us to get to this point in our lives, the place where we are humbled and on our knees and looking up to Him  It is often the only way God has our attention; our willingness to surrender to Him and His way.

When reading this story in Acts I was reminded of Jonah and the big trouble he found himself in because he was headstrong and wanted to things his way.  It took a big storm and an even bigger fish to cause Jonah to give up control to God

"Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. (Acts 27:15, 18, 20)
Paul was on the same page as God in this story; it was the other characters in the story who needed to see a Great Big God in action.  This storm was one that would have ended in disaster any other time, but this time God sent an Angel to Paul who told him no one would be lost, only the ship would be destroyed.

We will have seasons when our life feels like a shipwreck, but if we take a lesson from Jonah and Paul and turn to God giving up our agendas, it will eventually be smooth sailing.

Read the Acts 27:1-44 text here.