Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 28 2024

In this Daily Devotion, the passage from Acts 27:18-25 is read. The ship Paul was on was caught in a violent storm, and they threw cargo overboard to lighten the load. They lost hope of being saved until an angel appeared to Paul, assuring him that everyone on the ship would survive. This story reminds us that even in the midst of a crisis, we can still have faith and hope. We should also be willing to encourage others who are going through their own storms. The sermon series on Hope During the Storms is concluding at Christ Church. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for January 28, 2024. Today we will be reading from Acts, chapter 27, verses 18 through 25. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. And when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said, Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost. Only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you. So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Often it is easy to talk about what we believe and be very confident in what we are saying until we actually find ourselves in the middle of some crisis or storm that puts those beliefs to the test. I say that I trust God no matter what happens. I say that God is my source of hope no matter what storm comes my way. But when they come, will I still trust? Will I still have a sense of hope? Paul had been doing a lot of preaching and teaching about God to many people. He had written letters to the house churches he had organized in several cities. He was strong in his beliefs and his understanding about what it meant to be the people of Jesus Christ. Now he was literally in the middle of a raging storm that threatened to sink the ship. The writer says, We finally gave up all hope of being saved, but God sent an angel to let Paul know he and the others would survive this storm. So he had an encouraging message of hope to give everyone on board. Hold on. You're going to get through this. Every once in a while, you and I are called on to encourage others who are going through a storm in their life. We may not have the same message Paul was able to share, but can at least let them know that they are not alone in this crisis. Is there anyone God is nudging you to contact with a message of hope? Your personal worship option today is to join us today in worship at Christ Church as we conclude this sermon series on Hope During the Storms. Even if you can't, bring a carload with you.