Devo Acts 27

Chapter 27
13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what
they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before
very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the
island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so
we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island
called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17When the men had
hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing
that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor
and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm
that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they
threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor
stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up
all hope of being saved. 21After 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. 22But now
I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship
will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve
stood beside me 24and 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.’ 25So
keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told
me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Meditation:
1. In spite of the terrible conditions, Paul spoke hopefully that an angel of God
had appeared to him in the night and assured him that he would arrive in
Rome and stand trial before Caesar; and all who were with him would get
there, too. He said, “Don’t give up… take heart” (the Message vv24-25). God
would strip them of what had obscured their awareness of him – the ship, the
job, and the mad rush to Rome. But their lives would be preserved.
2. God is also out to get us. Everything we consider a loss can be a chance to
discover God at the center, to realize the preciousness of life itself, of love
unencumbered by lust and pride and greed. The Voice keeps arriving in the
midst of terror, disaster and hopelessness: “Don’t give up… take heart.”
3. Tell God my fear and helplessness. Find God in the midst of my problem
and His presence. Listen to Him telling me: “Don’t give up… take heart.”

Personal Note:
This morning I woke up from a weird dream.  I was hanging around with my family at a cemetery at night.  For some reason, this place is fully lighted and nicely furnished and decorated.  As I was walking with them, I felt terrified.  I do not know what my fears were.  I felt that darkness will come any moment.  I appeared to be fine.  I felt that this dream is very odd and I pray to God how I should see this.

Perfect love should cast out all fears.  I do have fear over loneliness, darkness, danger, death...  There are fear of failure, of rejection...  But you say "Do not be afraid, for I am with you"