“And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, ‘Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved’.”

Acts 27:30-31

The temptation’s always there, but the danger of doing so is much greater than that of remaining on-board.

It’s amazing how we act under stress. Someone once said, “When you’re under stress, you tend to regress” and the saying is true. One may wax eloquently, spouting Scriptures right and left while standing on the mountaintop, but soon be running for cover and acting like a despairing, salty-tongued sailor when the waves are threatening to swamp the boat.

Evidently Paul’s ship had one lifeboat on it, based upon what we read in today’s Manna. The “shipmen” mentioned were evidently part of the crew; yet, instead of looking after the safety of their passengers, they were trying to sneak away on the lifeboat in an “It’s every man for himself,” Survivor-Series cowardice act.

Thankfully, Paul or one of the other 276 passengers saw their treacherous intentions and sounded the alarm. The aged Apostle used the incident as an opportunity to remind them of God’s Message to him via the angel (vv.22-25). He’d already told them no one would lose their life (v.22), even though the ship and its cargo would be lost (v.22c). And, sure enough, that’s exactly what happened (vv.38-44).

“Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day.” Acts 27:29 Theirs go down, but ours go up—and theirs is based on wishful thinking, while ours is based on Hopeful anticipation. Anchors. Every boat or...

“But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, ‘Sirs you should have hearkened unto me and not have loosed from Crete and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer—for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship, for the stood by me this night the angel of God, Whose I am and Whom I serve, saying Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar—and, lo, God has given you all them that sail with you.’ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer—for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

Acts 27:21-25

In the midst of the fiercest storms we can still hear His “still, small Voice” if we’ll but listen.

There’s no doubt Paul was apprehensive about setting sail so late in the year (v.10). He did his best to warn others, but they wouldn’t listen and set sail anyway (vv.11-12). Sure enough, his worst fears were realized when the allurement of a big pay-day in Italy and “south winds blowing softly” (v.13) caused the ship’s owner and crew to throw caution to the wind and proceed full-sails ahead.

But then the feared Euroclydon appeared (v.14).

These fierce, northeasterly hurricane-force winds are notorious ship-wreckers and sailor-killers on the Mediterranean Sea. And “letting a ship run” in such winds (v.15) is like being on a runaway rollercoaster with no brakes. It’s a “hang-on-for-your life and hope-for-the-best” experience.

Even though the sailors did what they could to bind the ship together (v.17) and lighten their load by throwing some cargo and the tackle overboard (vv.18-19), they realized they were still in dire straits and began losing hope of even surviving.

“And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was taken away.”

Acts 27:20

When all around us we see nothing but “Doom, despair and agony on me,” we must look with eyes of faith and listen with ears of hope for Him and His welcome Voice.

Paul had already told them it was ill-advisable to set sail; but, they wouldn’t listen (vv.10-11). The ship’s owner and his crew knew “sailing was now dangerous because the Fast/Feast (Day of Atonement) was now past” (v.9); yet, because of their precious cargo from Alexandria (v.6) and the good pay-day that awaited them, they threw caution to the wind and set sail anyway.

How foolish one acts when allured by the world’s fool’s gold. The siren voice of “fame and fortune” has lured many a sailor to his/her demise on the hard rocks of reality. How we should warn them (v.10)—but we mustn’t “grow weary in well-doing” (Gal. 6:9) if they will not listen.

Neither should we be surprised when such “riotous (and faithless) living” leaves one in the same condition as the prodigal son (Lk. 15:1-14). Sin for a season is always delicious and alluring, but in the end it leaves heartache and despair.

“Now when much time was spent and when sailing was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already past, Paul admonished them and said unto them, ‘Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage—not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.’ Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”

Acts 27:9-11

As Oswald Chambers said, “God never gives the gift of discernment for criticism; it’s always for intercession.”

Oh the agony of soul when words of counsel fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts! Like one who’s seen that the trestle bridge over the ravine has collapsed. . .or there’s a massive waterfall around the bend that awaits a boatload of partying newcomers, oblivious to their danger. . .we try to warn them, crying “There’s danger ahead! Stop what you’re doing! Can’t you see your peril that awaits you?!?”

But, they don’t listen. Like blind and deaf people, they ignore your pleas—pressing on full-steam ahead toward death and destruction.

“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. . .I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”

Psalm 101:2

Our biggest battles are won before the first shot is fired or the first blow is given.

Commitment and consecration.

Those are the key words in today’s Manna as David reminds us of how to live a holy life before the Lord. We are not saved by our works; however, it is by our works that true faith is revealed (James 1:19-4:17; 5:7-20; Mt. 7:16, 20).

That’s why we must be pro-active in our faith if we are to be victorious. Woe to any who think they can wait until a time of testing to “see what they’re made of;” such procrastination and presumption will only reveal the strength of the flesh and weakness of the spirit. Much better is to say with David “I will behave myself wisely (Heb. ‘sakal’—‘circumspect, intelligently, prudently, wittingly, etc.’) in a perfect (Heb. ‘tamiym’—‘entire, morally without blemish, integrity, truth, undefiled, upright, etc.’) way. . .I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”

Thus, it’s clear such behaving and walking are not by accident.

No, they are intentional acts of the will motivated by the Father’s Love and our love for Him.

There’s no doubt the anonymous author of Ps. 119 had this in mind when he repeatedly talked about “seeking the Lord with the whole heart” (vv.2, 9, 34). . . “cleansing himself by taking heed to His Word” (v.9). . . “delighting himself in and not forgetting His Word” (vv.16, 47, 77, 103, 174, 176). . .“hoping in His Word” (vv. 81, 114, 147), etc.

He knew “growing in Grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18) doesn’t happen by accident or osmosis. It’s the result of wholehearted, “consecrated commitment” that will not rest so long as there’s a single pocket of resistance in our lives.

And, what motivates such commitment?

Quite simply: His Love for us. . .and our love for Him (Ps. 119:47, 88, 97, 113, 119, 127, 140, 159, 165, 167).

Yes, it’s the cry of the “longing soul” (Ps. 119:174) that “hungers and thirsts for Him” (Mt. 5:6). And, the Lord has promised that we will “find Him when we seek for Him with all of our heart” (Jer. 29:13-14; Mt. 7:7-11). Hallelujah!!