Daily Reading: Acts 27
Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. (Acts 27.13)
Devotional Thought: In one of my churches, I thought I needed some new blood on the board, so I prayed for new board members (which was good!) and promoted some of my own choosing (which was not so good!). Two men, relatively new to the church, were elected to the board. They were my friends. A gentle south wind was blowing. But, I couldn’t see the disaster ahead. One of my “friends” completely turned against me and at one point even threatened me. The other didn’t turn against me, but his presence on the board was a negative and divisive influence.
Have you ever thought you had obtained what you wanted only to discover that it led to disaster? Satan never shows us the whole picture but instead flashes a pleasant-looking scene before us. We see calm seas, feel gentle breezes, and decide, “Hey this is just what I’ve been waiting for!” So we set sai,l and when Satan has us in too far to turn back, the winds turn against us with hurricane force.
What should we do in such a time? When we are in a mess of our own making? How do we get through the storm? Paul and the crew did several things to get through their storm, but the one thing that really stood out to me was the statement in verse 26: “But, we must run aground on some island.”
In the storm, look for the islands! You need to get your feet on solid ground. Jesus Christ is the Rock that never moves and he will be your refuge in the storm. You may lose everything – ship, cargo, tackle – but Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. "On Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand!"
Prayer: Lord, help me to be true to what I know and to keep my eyes on you. When Satan would lure me with gentle south winds, help me to see through his deception and trust in your direction. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78:9-16
9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.
11 They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.
12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
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