When Your Boat is Broken
Daily Reading: (Acts 27:1-2, 9-11):
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.”
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”
I believe it is important to know that there can be people set over you, a boss, an older sibling, a parent that can make some decisions that at the time you might not have any say over, however, God can still use those forced decisions to do miraculous things through. God arraigned of all the people who could have commanded this regiment for it to be Julius. Julius was a centurion which simply means a commander of 100 men. Now, God was working in Julius’ life. Who in verse 3 after only being with Paul for a very short time it says: “and Julius, in kindness to Paul.” We see the same thing happen for Joseph with Potiphar and other Biblical characters who had the favor of God upon their lives. Everyone who is in Christ has the favor of God. Expect doors to open even in unlikely relationship because as your life shines forth the light of Christ it will attract others to you who will notice something is different about you.
”But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.” If you try to save yourself apart from or counter to God’s Word (Jesus Christ), salvation will always escape you (Acts 27:30-31).
“Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” This speaks about God’s love and His care for us. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” The cheapest thing you could buy at the market (sparrows) God cares about. You are worth way more. God loves you so much that He even keeps track of how many hairs are on your head. He knows every single detail about you. In a hurricane, God’s protection is so good that you won’t lose even a single hair on your head because God is with you, God is for you, and God is protecting you. That’s what I want to here when my boat is being driven aground. Sometimes we need a storm to divert us onto a God-led path.