March 14, 2023 -- Acts 27:1-3 -- The Acts of the Apostles: submission in troubled times that bears witness to God

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And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.
Acts 27:1-3 ESV

What stands out is the favour of God on the life of Paul. The Father in heaven sent Jesus to rescue Paul on the road to Damascus. The murderer of Christians is now falsely accused of murder and he experiences the same hard and terrible treatment he’d handed out to followers of the Way.

Humanly speaking the circumstances are bad. Paul was in prison for two plus years, cleared by various governors. Even King Agrippa declared “he is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment” (Acts 26:31). Jewish leaders still had smoldering resentments against Paul. Those who had the authority to act on his behalf and intervene for justice did not. Now consider this from a divine perspective. Paul has friends who attend to his needs. The Father raised up a kindly centurion who treated Paul well. Paul has the opportunity to witness to everyone in prison, on the ship and along the way on his travels. He has traveling companions who are Christians who share his hardships out of devotion to Christ and dedication to His servant Paul.

Later in this chapter one can read of Paul’s intimacy with God and this juxtaposed with his prayers for the sailors, guards and other prisoners. Because of God’s favour on Paul and Paul’s compassion for them and his willingness to speak up, none of them are lost at sea when the violent storm he foretold shipwrecks them. At every step Paul displays the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. His attitude toward those who represent his oppressors and tormentors remains honourable. It will be interesting to see how many guards from the Augustan Cohort, and how many fellow prisoners on that ship will be with us in heaven because of our Father’s steadfast love and Paul’s witness.

How about you? Where in your life are your hard circumstances and your simultaneous submission to God so evident that non-Christians see your devotion to the Lord of Glory and because of it are seeking to understand the reasons why.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the men and women who over the years have so faithfully showed Your steadfast love and kindness to us. Thank You for the blessing of Christian community, brothers and sisters in Christ who stand by us. Thank You for the grace of Jesus Christ which reaches into every area of our lives and touches every brokenness with Your reconciling love. Thank You, Father in heaven for Your Spirit Who makes the word living to us and by Whose power in us we can live out our devotion to You. May our Spirit-fueled dedication to You, no matter the earthly circumstances of our lives, bear testimony to Your goodness such that many will come to know Jesus Christ. Amen.

https://youtu.be/0DpSIIiWkEM "Every promise of Your word" Keith and Kristyn Getty

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