Today’s devotion comes from Acts 27:33-44.
“33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing.
34 Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”
35 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat.
36 All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food.
37 All of us in the ship were two hundred and seventy-six persons.
38 When they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 When day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did observe a bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could.
40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they were heading for the beach.
41 But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape;
43 but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
44 and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.” Acts 27:33-44.
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Not that all the ship’s passengers were saints, still nevertheless, today’s Scripture reminds us of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Reformed doctrine of salvation.
When we read today about “preservation, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”, we are reminded of that part of Answer 1 to Question 1 of The Heidelberg Catechism: my faithful Savior Jesus Christ “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, at the end of today’s Scripture, we love to read the fulfillment of the promise and prophecy: “And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land.”
God preserves His elect to salvation, providing everything that they need to be saved. God causes His elect to persevere to salvation.
Consider the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
If it is not enough to assure us that no one can snatch us out of Jesus’ hands, Jesus goes over the top by also assuring us that no one is also able to snatch us from God the Father’s hand: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29.
Here is part of what The Canons of Dordt states about “Preservation of the Saints”.
“Article 3. By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.”
The Canons of Dordt states a lot more about “Preservation of the Saints”. Here is a link to the full section on it – Click here: The Canons of Dordt, Fifth Head of Doctrine
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 