{"id":2196,"date":"2020-05-05T12:35:52","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T20:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2196"},"modified":"2020-05-05T12:36:28","modified_gmt":"2020-05-05T20:36:28","slug":"devotion-acts-2713-26-i-believeeven-though-its-silly-i-believe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2196","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 27:13-26 I Believe\u2026Even Though It\u2019s Silly, I Believe"},"content":{"rendered":"
Acts 27:13-26<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.<\/span>\u00a014\u00a0<\/span>Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,\u00a0called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.<\/span>\u00a015\u00a0The ship was caught by the storm and\u00a0<\/span>could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.<\/span>\u00a016\u00a0As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat\u00a0secure,<\/span>\u00a017\u00a0so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground\u00a0on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor\u00a0and let the ship be driven along.<\/span>\u00a018\u00a0We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.<\/span>\u00a019\u00a0On the third day, they threw the ship\u2019s tackle overboard with their own hands.<\/span>\u00a020\u00a0When\u00a0<\/span>neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging,<\/span>\u00a0we finally\u00a0<\/span>gave up all hope of being saved.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>21\u00a0After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: \u201cMen, you should have taken my advice\u00a0not to sail from Crete;\u00a0then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.<\/span>\u00a022\u00a0<\/span>But now I urge you to keep up your courage,<\/span>\u00a0because\u00a0<\/span>not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.<\/span>\u00a023\u00a0Last night\u00a0<\/span>an angel\u00a0of the God<\/span>\u00a0to whom I belong and whom I serve\u00a0stood beside me<\/span>\u00a024\u00a0and said,\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;\u00a0and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.\u2019<\/span>\u00a025\u00a0So keep up your courage,\u00a0men, for\u00a0<\/span>I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.<\/span>\u00a026\u00a0Nevertheless, we must run aground\u00a0on some island.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n
\"Inline<\/i><\/div>\n
\u201cWhen a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.<\/i><\/span>\u00a0 Having taken the advice of experts, rather than the man of God, they left the harbor and set sail as soon as it seemed favorable.\u00a0 The experts on the ship with all their experience were the pilot and the owner of the ship.\u00a0 They had the expertise and so it was logical to the pagan mind to decide to follow their advice.\u00a0 They had the knowledge of the seas and the ship, they had the training and the experience, and so the centurion took their advice.\u00a0 Besides they knew of the Phoenix not so far away that had a much safer and better harbor.\u00a0 This was a place where sailors often wintered down.\u00a0 There they would have lodging, restaurants and diversions in entertainment.\u00a0 The sailors would be excited to spend the winter there.\u00a0 So to the logical human mind, it seemed like a good choice.\u00a0 It seemed like the right choice.\u00a0 When the weather turned calm, off they went.\u00a0
\n<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

\u201c14\u00a0<\/i><\/span>Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,\u00a0called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.<\/i><\/span>\u00a015\u00a0The ship was caught by the storm and\u00a0<\/span>could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Smooth sailing turned into the winds of the Northeaster (often described as a cyclone).\u00a0\u00a0The winds were so bad that they could not go in the direction they wished and they had to submit to where the wind would blow them.\u00a0\u00a0Instead of being safe on land, they were now frightened for their lives.\u00a0\u00a0At this point, the knowledge of pagan men was surely still of some use, but of no real value.\u00a0\u00a0The expertise of man is dust blown in the wind compared to the knowledge of God. The circumstance they were now in was beyond their control.\u00a0\u00a0What had been in control was to believe God rather than man.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat\u00a0secure,<\/i><\/span>\u00a017\u00a0so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground\u00a0on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor\u00a0and let the ship be driven along.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Before being overwhelmed by the Northeaster the men had not sailed very long.\u00a0\u00a0They had set sail from Fair Haven and had only traveled about thirty five miles before coming to a very small island that is about 12.5 miles square.\u00a0\u00a0(Californians can compare that to Santa Catalina Island which is seventy-six square miles.)\u00a0\u00a0The ship sought whatever relief they could find by hiding from the winds behind this small island.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lifeboats then were usually tethered to the ship and followed the ship on the seas.\u00a0\u00a0The seas had become so bad that lifeboat was in danger of being lost so they brought it on board.\u00a0\u00a0Certainly, in those conditions not an easy or safe task.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason they \u201cpassed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together<\/i>\u201d was because they thought that the winds and pounding waves could break their ship apart.\u00a0\u00a0Family and friends, imagine yourself in that ship.\u00a0\u00a0It would prove to be terrifying even to the seasoned sailors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They dropped their sea anchor to slow them down.\u00a0\u00a0They were afraid of running aground in Syrtis.\u00a0\u00a0Now their intended destination was Rome Italy.\u00a0\u00a0Syrtis is now the Libyan city Sirte.\u00a0\u00a0This cyclone that was seemingly tearing the ship apart was also pushing the ship as far from Rome as it could.\u00a0\u00a0The forces of the world pushing Paul from where God had told him he would go to testify of Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0Paul could clearly see the danger.\u00a0\u00a0He knew that the ship was being pushed away from his destination.\u00a0\u00a0Family, we can see with spiritual eyes that amidst the storm was the hand of the enemy.\u00a0\u00a0Was Paul, concerned?\u00a0\u00a0There is no evidence that Paul ever doubted that he would be arrive at Rome.\u00a0\u00a0God had said that he would be in Rome and so he would be.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\"Inline
\n<\/span><\/div>\n

Upon whom do we place our trust?\u00a0\u00a0Family, the ways of God can seem foolish to the world.\u00a0\u00a0After all, think about it.\u00a0\u00a0We absolutely believe that a God that though physical eyes cannot see and hands cannot touch, and ears cannot hear, that He supernaturally caused God the Son to become a son of a young woman.\u00a0\u00a0Furthermore we believe that this fully God and fully man being lived a perfectly sinless life, that He did not resist being mocked, spit upon, slugged in the face, having a crown of thorns forced down upon His head and brutally whipped.\u00a0\u00a0Even more we believe that after beaten nearly to death, having lost much blood, that he carried a rough wooden cross upon his raw shoulders for about a half a mile, uphill, and then to be nailed to the cross with His exposed nerves rubbing against the rough cross, and to stay on that wooden cross until He died of asphyxiated.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then, to top it all, we believe that this God (that we cannot physically see) rose Jesus from the dead and in all that, we have forgiveness of sin and the path to eternity with God.\u00a0\u00a0The only path!\u00a0\u00a0Family, to the common mind, does that make sense?\u00a0\u00a0No, it seems ludicrous to them.\u00a0\u00a0(1 Corinthians 1:18-19<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0Yet, that baby born to Mary, that man who suffered and died for us, He who rose from the dead, He, yes He, is the one we call our Hero.\u00a0\u00a0Does He sound like any hero the world has?\u00a0\u00a0The ways of God are not the ways of man.\u00a0\u00a0Let us see with spiritual eyes, let us understand with a spiritual mind.\u00a0\u00a0The only way to do that is to be born from above through the Son of God, Jesus our Savior and Lord.\u00a0\u00a0The world scoffs and mocks.\u00a0\u00a0To us, our hearts and minds swell with faith and hope as we see what only the children of God can see.\u00a0\u00a0We sing, we shout \u201cHallelujah\u201d to our God, our Savior.\u00a0\u00a0Yes, hallelujah Jesus!\u00a0\u00a0Upon You our eyes are fixed.\u00a0\u00a0Hallelujah!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

P<\/b><\/span>salm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; and what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 27:13-26\u00a0–\u00a0When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.\u00a014\u00a0Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,\u00a0called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.\u00a015\u00a0The ship was caught by the storm and\u00a0could not head into the wind; so we gave way to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,129,94,1874,17],"class_list":["post-2196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-corinthians","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-psalm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2197,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196\/revisions\/2197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}