How blessed Christians are to be God's adopted, beloved children! Young children might be small, weak, and vulnerable and learn to rely upon their parents for understanding and help. A child who is loved can be secure and carefree knowing their parents are near. The simplicity of a child's trust and reliance upon their parents is a lesson to all followers of Jesus Christ we should never grow out of.
Paul provides an example of this when a voyage which began with a gentle breeze turned stormy and deadly. When all hope seemed to be lost, Paul stood up and addressed the crew and fellow prisoners with words of encouragement. He said in Acts 27:22-25, "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."
Paul exhorted the distressed men to take heart because God promised their lives would be preserved. Notice how Paul viewed his relationship with God: "...to whom I belong and whom I serve." Much of our lives on earth, especially in our younger days, is to work to fit in somewhere, to belong. Those who were blessed with a loving family understand how belonging impacts life, knowing you are the child of parents who provide, teach, discipline, and help. No matter how people were treated by their parents, everyone has the opportunity to belong to God as His child through faith in Jesus. Paul belonged to God and thus was secure and at rest even when his ship was tossed by waves.
As one who belonged to God, Paul served God. The people I have grown closest to are those I spend time with and have shared experiences. Since Paul belonged to God and God was with Paul, they conversed with each other. Paul had great confidence all would happen as God told him through an angelic messenger. Receiving a message from an angel would be a novel experience, but we do not need a heavenly vision to read and understand the Word of God, know God, and know we belong to Him. No one can earn this sense of belonging through service or sacrifice: it is only by the grace of God we are accepted and belong. May God grant us the faith and confidence of Paul who was bold to live out his glorious identity in Christ.
Paul provides an example of this when a voyage which began with a gentle breeze turned stormy and deadly. When all hope seemed to be lost, Paul stood up and addressed the crew and fellow prisoners with words of encouragement. He said in Acts 27:22-25, "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."
Paul exhorted the distressed men to take heart because God promised their lives would be preserved. Notice how Paul viewed his relationship with God: "...to whom I belong and whom I serve." Much of our lives on earth, especially in our younger days, is to work to fit in somewhere, to belong. Those who were blessed with a loving family understand how belonging impacts life, knowing you are the child of parents who provide, teach, discipline, and help. No matter how people were treated by their parents, everyone has the opportunity to belong to God as His child through faith in Jesus. Paul belonged to God and thus was secure and at rest even when his ship was tossed by waves.
As one who belonged to God, Paul served God. The people I have grown closest to are those I spend time with and have shared experiences. Since Paul belonged to God and God was with Paul, they conversed with each other. Paul had great confidence all would happen as God told him through an angelic messenger. Receiving a message from an angel would be a novel experience, but we do not need a heavenly vision to read and understand the Word of God, know God, and know we belong to Him. No one can earn this sense of belonging through service or sacrifice: it is only by the grace of God we are accepted and belong. May God grant us the faith and confidence of Paul who was bold to live out his glorious identity in Christ.
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