Your "yes" changes everything!

Joe Wittwer | February 20, 2012

Scripture: Numbers 7, Psalm 23, Acts 27

            Acts 27:22-25 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives even though the ship will go down.  23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 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.”  25 So take courage! For I believe God.  It will be just as he said.

 

Observation/application

            While he was in jail in Caesarea (Acts 23), God promised Paul that he would share the gospel in Rome.  Now in the midst of a storm at sea that threatened all their lives, God reiterates that promise to Paul, indicating that not only his life would be spared, but the lives of everyone with him.  I love the goodness of God—he saved everyone to save Paul (He didn’t have to).  I would like to be a Paul—the person to whom God says, “I will save everyone with you, everyone around you.”  To be a Paul means obedience to God’s call and trust—“For I believe God.”

            Paul is the NT antithesis to OT Jonah.  Both are called by God to speak His message in the capital of the empire (Rome and Ninevah).  But Jonah runs away from God and His assignment; he boards a ship going the opposite way and sails straight into a storm, and his shipmates throw him overboard to save their lives—Jonah’s disobedience threatened all their lives.  Paul sails to Rome to obey God’s call and runs into a storm, but tells his shipmates that his presence will save their lives—Paul’s obedience saved all their lives. 

            Obedience or disobedience is never a private affair.  Your choices affect others, sometimes drastically.  Jonah’s disobedience almost killed the crew of his ship; Paul’s obedience saved the crew of his ship. Your "yes" to God changes everything!

            I’m going to obey.  I’m going to Rome!  And I can’t wait to see who around me God will save!

 

Prayer: Lord, I will do what you say.  Help me to hear you clearly and obey you fearlessly.  And please give me the lives of everyone around me!  Use me!