Courageous Living

S - "After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."" Acts 27:21-26 NIV

O - It is not just the men on this ship who will need to keep their courage up. If it happens as God wills then not only will they all be saved from the storm, Paul will stand before Caesar. According to heaven Paul "must stand trial before Caesar." Like his Lord before him the secular authorities will condemn him to death for no reason at all. Like the events of Jesus' trial and execution the world will think they have the upper hand … and, as with the experience of Jesus, time and eternity will prove they did not. 

A - I keep wanting Paul to be free and God keeps wanting him to stand trial before Caesar.  This serves to illustrate yet again why I can have in mind the things of men rather than the things of God even when I'm reading Scripture and putting my best theological foot forward (cf. Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33).  Relief and confidence will come not through circumstances of our preference but the person of our devotion.  Jesus is life, is truth, is hope, is the King of kings … my assignment is follow and believe (rely on and have confidence in).  This is my heart’s desire.

P - King of kings and King of me,

I admit my flawed thinking … that on my best day I see through a dark glass dimly.  Lord, thank you for insisting I trust, follow and believe. Lord, with all that has transpired and all the still swirls around us I do trust you and am choosing to NOT lean on my own understanding.  I will follow you and refuse to take the lead … no matter where you lead or what I face. Lord, I believe and want to do the work of believing so that I can make you glad and maybe be a reason someone else believes.  Lord, my answer is yes.

All my love,

Steve