When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on a certain island.”
The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land. Acts 27: 22-25; 42-44
There are moments in our life where we are compelled by God to stand and do something heroic. Paul took his stand and saved the lives 270+ people. He acted in a faithful and faith-filled response to an angelic message. He demonstrated leadership. I love that he took the opportunity to say “I told you so”! That’s some good smack talk to the pilot and captain who thought they alone knew how to navigate the sea and weather. They disregarded the man who grew up in a city just 10 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. We all have our moments when God uses all the lessons of life and the exercise of faith to do something truly life-saving or life-giving.
How about me? Am I willing to take a stand for the Lord in that all important moment? What has He done to prepare me for it?
God, I am grateful to be part of Your great plan to save the world. Call on me and I will do my best to be ready for the moment to stand!
