Today’s devotion comes from Acts 27:1-26 which covers Paul being sent to Rome by ship. The sailing was slow for many days with difficulty. At a certain point, Paul advised the men to harbor and not continue sailing, but his advice was not heeded. Before very long, they encountered a violent wind. The ship was caught in it and became violently storm-tossed. They began to jettison the cargo. Neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned. We will focus on Paul’s speech in the following verses.
“21 When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.
22 Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
26 But we must run aground on a certain island.” Acts 27:21-26.
—————————-
There is a comfort that we belong to God. Paul recognized that fact and said: “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ ”
We will face afflictions. We read later that Paul was later ship-wrecked, but all their lives were indeed spared. “… And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.” Acts 27:44.
Somehow, God will deliver us from all of our afflictions. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19.
Someone may point out that we may die. Yes, but, that does not mean that God does not deliver us out of all of our afflictions. God delivers us from so many different kinds of afflictions so many times. God saves our earthly lives so very many times. But, even when we eventually do die, God delivers us from the afflictions of this earthly life to the peace, joy, and perfection of heavenly life.
The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us of the comfort that whether in life or death, we belong to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
