Day 257- Smooth Sailing      

Daily Reading

Acts Chapters 24-28

🎥 Video  

Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.

 

📝 Reflection 

Acts: 27:21-26

“No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.””

If you think the Bible is just a boring book of rules, lessons and stories open the last 5 chapters of Acts, it reads like an adventure novel. Paul is arrested in thrown in jail for more than two years - two years… He was innocent and was being used as a political pawn between the Jewish leaders and the Roman leaders of the day. There were plots to ambush and kill him, strategies to protect him from assassination and on an on. Yet he remained faithful to his mission and used the opportunity in the courts and prison to still minister and spread the gospel. He eventually had a chance to be freed but because of all of the political games being played he “appealed to Caesar”.

This is apparently an official request that then has to be carried out. It made me think of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies when a ‘parlay’ is called. Very official and must be honored, and it is a whole official process. So, anyway since Paul appealed to Caesar he had to be transported to Rome with an official convoy. This required traveling by boat through many towns, islands, harbors, hazardous  many many storms and rough seas. 

They are in a fight for their lives against weather, elements, hunger, exhaustion and the brink of losing their ship from the beating it was taking. Then Paul has this visit from an angel of the Lord reassuring him that he and those traveling with him will survive the impending shipwreck and eventually make it to Rome. There is an intense storm and shipwreck that does take place and they are able to swim to the island of Malta. The people of Malta who were on the shore welcomed them and helped them make a fire. As Paul is gathering sticks he is bitten by a snake. The people of Malta who witnessed this though this was a sign that meant that Paul was not a good man and that this was a sign of justice. But he was not harmed and did not have a bad reaction to the snake bite. Then their minds were changed to the other extreme and they thought he was a god. They became honored guests on the island for three months  and healed many people. 

They then set sail for the final destination of Rome and Paul is brought to Rome under guard. He was given the opportunity to state his case and preach what he believed about Jesus being the messiah that was talked about in the scriptures. Many believed and some did not, he stayed in Rome for more than two years preaching and teaching. And (28:31) “boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.”

Paul and his traveling companions were literally in the eye of the storm for weeks and months sailing the rough seas. He was not delivered from experiencing the storms, waves and hardships but he knew he was being delivered safely to his destination and that he would arrive and those that sailed with him as well. Likewise are not promised smooth sailing in this life as a matter of fact he will ask us to go through storms at times. But we take comfort in knowing there is a bigger plan at work that is for our good and for the good of all. 

✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt 

How can this perspective help you as you may feel like you are in the eye of a storm right now. Have you had stormy seasons in your life that you still feel unsettled about or that have cast a shadow for you mentally, emotionally and or physically that you are still feeling beaten up about? How can you use these stories and concepts to help you arrive in a new place?

📖Tomorrows Reading

 Romans Chapter 1 

Coaching Opportunity

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