SATURDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2024
TEXT:
Acts 27:27-44
27:
On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea,
when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
28:
They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet
deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet
deep.
29:
Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors
from the stern and prayed for daylight.
30:
In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into
the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
31:
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with
the ship, you cannot be saved.”
32:
So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33:
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.
34:
Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will
lose a single hair from his head.”
35:
After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them
all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
36:
They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
37:
Altogether there were 276 of us on board.
38:
When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing
the grain into the sea.
39:
When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a
sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
40:
Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time
untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the
wind and made for the beach.
41:
But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not
move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42:
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming
away and escaping.
43:
But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out
their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to
land.
44:
The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this
way everyone reached land safely.
(New International Version Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
BECOMING MEN OF PRAYER BECAUSE OF THREAT OF SHIPWRECK
In today’s text, the
people are drawing close to land but are not sure about where to berth. The
sailors took proper precautions against being crushed against rocks.
Some sailors who were
trying to escape didn’t care for the passengers. They wanted to abandon the
ship and leave the passengers, but Paul advised them to stay and be saved.
That experience made
the people become men of prayer. The threat of shipwreck and death turned them
into people of prayer.
In the morning, Paul
implored the passengers to eat so that they could survive, which they did.
In verses 39-41, the
ship ran aground and broke apart, but no life was lost. The soldiers wanted to
kill all the prisoners on board so that they would not escape, but the
centurion came to their rescue purposely because of Apostle Paul.
That favour kept Paul
and all the prisoners alive in fulfilment of the words spoken to him: “God has
granted you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24).
God did not only save
Paul, but all the prisoners with him on board. Praise the Lord! Clearly,
persecution can be an opportunity for saving people.
Through Paul, God saved
the prisoners that were condemned to die.
QUESTION:
DO you believe God can deliver you from all the problems you are facing today?
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, please fulfil Your promises in my life, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
ECWA Food For The Day, 2024.
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