Today’s Devotion
Topic: Stay On-board!
Text: Acts 27: 13 -15, 27- 32
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
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. Amen
When Paul’s appeal to Caesar was finally approved, he and some other prisoners were put on a ship heading for Italy under the guard of a centurion called Julius. The ship was battered in a heavy storm until the 14th day when they sensed they were approaching land. The sailors lowered lifeboats pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow, when actually they were abandoning the ship. Paul then warned the rest that unless the sailors stayed aboard with them, none of them was going to be saved.
Beloved, when we get unto a public transport, we do not immediately inquire if the driver is qualified to commute us safely or not, we just accept him as he is regardless of his appearance or stature. For the fact that he is the person behind the wheels of the transport, then he must be the driver, sailor or pilot. Otherwise, why is he there?
This faith we have in the driver/ pilot/ sailor is not just for honour, it is also a responsibility. He/ she must commute us to our destination and ensure our safety even when there are challenges. If he abandons us in the middle of a storm to perish, he will have God to answer to.
The same is true for all leaders, politicians, and heads of organisations at every sphere of life (including the Fathers). The many these people lead, barely question their work or decisions. Especially when they are operating under the generally accepted guidelines.
However, once there’s a problem, those they lead naturally expect that they help fix it. Where the challenge or storm overwhelms all, they still expect that these leaders do not abandon the “ship” for their own safety. Apostle Paul warns that, doing so is the quickest way to destroying those aboard looking up to them.
Begin to pray now. Intercede for our leaders, both civil and religious, especially politicians and opinion leaders. Pray that they do not abandon us to perish in the storm. God placed them in office not just for honour but also to solve problems. We need them to pull us out of the storm to safety and they would have served God and country. Remind them that there is a reward in Christ for them if they do. That reward is better than any other that men can offer in a life time. Serving fellow man in truth, is serving the God of truth.
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