Paul

But we will be saved!

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Acts 27:22

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When Paul spoke these words the men on the ship had lost all hope of survival. Their bodies were totally exhausted from weeks of frantic effort, lack of sleep and food. As they helplessly watched giant waves crashing over the ship’s deck they may have wondered if one of those would split the boat in two and send them to the bottom of the sea. Paul’s words spoke directly to their fears and weariness. He who had been the helpless prisoner in chains was now the only one who had assurance of a way out and for rescue. But to his life giving message each of Paul’s listeners had a different response. The owner and the captain may have felt ashamed for beginning the voyage at all. To them God extended mercy and a chance for a new start. To the soldiers and sailors aboard there came the startling thought that this weak puny preacher on board was in reality their best hope of survival in a storm. To his fellow prisoners Paul was a beacon of hope that they would not only survive the storm but that they, like Paul could put their faith in God.

Right now God is offering to go with us through our storms. Jesus Christ continues to send us messengers of hope at mid-night. At this exact moment God offers the hope of salvation to everyone who chooses to sail with Paul. We are all in the same boat. We all sail through the same storms. But we also all have the same promise: The boat may be lost but if we put our faith in God then we will be saved!

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God’s Open Door

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

 

1554975554024_image.jpgIn the ancient Macedonian city of Philippi, Paul and Silas found themselves at the epicenter of an earthquake that changed not only their own his lives; but the future of Christianity in the West. Previous to their travel there; Paul had a dream of a Macedonian man calling for help and so had obediently left a successful work  of planting churches throughout Asia minor, Cyprus and Syria. But not long after going to Macedonia, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into prison.

If you are anything like me, you might have started moaning or at best patiently enduring the pain and humiliation of that day. Should I have been in Paul’s place I could have complained saying; “God: You called me here and this is the thanks I get!” But no! …In fact Paul and Silas were singing hymns at midnight when suddenly an earthquake shook the prison so hard that the doors swung open and their chains fell to the ground. Often we pray for an open door and in my mind that is most definitely an open door!

If that had happened to me while chained in a dungeon I am pretty sure that I along with most of you would have been half-way home before slowing down long enough to catch our breath. But the funniest thing about that night is that the open door let the jailer in; not the prisoner out!

So no matter the problem or situation we find ourselves in today may this remind us that God’s doors are more about entrances than exits. God is working not so much to get us out of things as He is bringing others to us so that we can point them to Him and together go out through His open door!

Comfort and Joy

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In the church my dad attended years ago they loved singing:

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from Heav’n, the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found—
The Comforter has come!    Frank Bottome 1890

God is near to comfort. But if we look to friends, activities or work in order to quiet the chorus of grief and loss we feel we will miss out on a living relationship with Him.  Maybe the past is clouding your vision of the path just ahead. Hurt, pain and the empty chair across the table are shouting out, while God whispers in His still small voice. Jesus promised to send us Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit to come and sit by our side. In His presence are quiet waters to drink from that heal and restore our souls. Once we drink from His stream we can go on with a cup of comfort to share with anyone in need along our way. Then we will know with Paul that the greatest joy is found, not by searching for it, but by asking, “Who can I comfort today?”

 

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