Scripture Acts 27:30-44
When the ship is sinking, what do you do?
Paul was on a boat as a prisoner that was not going to make it safely to shore. They had experienced being blown around by terrible storms. Now they were close to land, but it was going to be a challenge getting onto that land.
During the chaos on the boat many different things happened. In our verses today, the people tried to get off the boat via life boats, threw cargo and food overboard, cut the anchors, and end up hitting ground too soon. In the midst of this chaos Paul takes charge and offers his leadership in many decisions. One of the major things he suggests is that everyone take a moment and remember to eat.
Eating is one of the first things that get effected by stress. Some people eat too much, others eat too little. When things get busy, meals often become an afterthought. But what you eat, and how much you eat, affect your life so much! It is helpful in stressful situations to get back to the basics and make sure you have a nutritional foundation to make decisions and do the necessary work.
Many Christians get caught up in the waves and storms of life that they forget to eat spiritual food (John 6:57-58). Jesus needs to be the source of our strength and our power. Gathering together as Christians allows you to be encouraged by others and for you to encourage others (Hebrews 10:25). When chaos is happening all around you, it is helpful to have a Paul in your life that will remind you of what really is important. It is helpful to have someone who will cut through the noise and point you back to that which will ultimately give you the power to go on.
Maybe God is calling you to be that person like Paul in someone else’s life today? When the ship is sinking, what do you do?
