DAY 340 Read Acts 25 through 27.
Today's reading: Unable to receive a fair trial before the vacillating provincial governors, Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen by appealing to the emperor. His trip to Rome turns out to be a thrilling adventure.
Memory gem: "There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee" (Acts 27:23, 24).
Thought for today:
The twenty-seventh chapter of Acts is the greatest shipwreck story of all time, and there was a real reporter right there to write it down. When you read that chapter, you are right in the storm with the apostle and the doctor-reporter. You hear the wind whistle through the rigging, the boom of the waves, the crashing of the mast, the snapping of ropes. You see the anchor dragging behind, the sailors trying to get out of the ship. Through the night you hear the thunder of the breakers on an unseen shore. The ship caught between the rocks, is being smashed to pieces. See those bobbing heads through the waves--some passengers escaping on pieces of the ship--all getting to land safely.
Then you know what happened--a big bonfire was built. Everyone huddled around it, shivering with the cold, trying to dry out, the apostle Paul with them. He gathered a large bundle of sticks; and as he threw them on the fire, a venomous viper fastened itself on his hand. The crowd stood looking at him. In their superstition they assumed that he was some murderer, who, while he had escaped the vengeance of the sea, was now by divine justice about to die. When the apostle shook off the viper into the fire and no harm came to him, they changed their minds and thought he was a god. After that they had every confidence in him.
Friend, from this experience we should learn to shake off the vipers of unbelief, sin, evil tempers, bad language, doubt, idolatry, prejudice--all things that ruin our influence in the community, in the church, and our standing with God. Their poison enfeebles us and repels others. Let's shake them off! Then we will find a new endowment of spiritual power, joy, and peace in living, and at last a home in the heavenly land and a life that measures with the life of God.
Today's reading: Unable to receive a fair trial before the vacillating provincial governors, Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen by appealing to the emperor. His trip to Rome turns out to be a thrilling adventure.
Memory gem: "There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee" (Acts 27:23, 24).
Thought for today:
The twenty-seventh chapter of Acts is the greatest shipwreck story of all time, and there was a real reporter right there to write it down. When you read that chapter, you are right in the storm with the apostle and the doctor-reporter. You hear the wind whistle through the rigging, the boom of the waves, the crashing of the mast, the snapping of ropes. You see the anchor dragging behind, the sailors trying to get out of the ship. Through the night you hear the thunder of the breakers on an unseen shore. The ship caught between the rocks, is being smashed to pieces. See those bobbing heads through the waves--some passengers escaping on pieces of the ship--all getting to land safely.
Then you know what happened--a big bonfire was built. Everyone huddled around it, shivering with the cold, trying to dry out, the apostle Paul with them. He gathered a large bundle of sticks; and as he threw them on the fire, a venomous viper fastened itself on his hand. The crowd stood looking at him. In their superstition they assumed that he was some murderer, who, while he had escaped the vengeance of the sea, was now by divine justice about to die. When the apostle shook off the viper into the fire and no harm came to him, they changed their minds and thought he was a god. After that they had every confidence in him.
Friend, from this experience we should learn to shake off the vipers of unbelief, sin, evil tempers, bad language, doubt, idolatry, prejudice--all things that ruin our influence in the community, in the church, and our standing with God. Their poison enfeebles us and repels others. Let's shake them off! Then we will find a new endowment of spiritual power, joy, and peace in living, and at last a home in the heavenly land and a life that measures with the life of God.
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