THE KING’S BUSINESS
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out of the stern of the ship, but the pic ture has been discovered in Herculaneum, of about Paul’s time, in which vessels were represented with provision for anchoring by the stern. Admiral Nelson put out anchors in this way at the battle of the Nile. That very morning he had been, reading this chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and that led him to this act.' The feeling Of the sailors that they were draw ing very near land is very true to life. Paill proved himself a very practical man on this occasion: he had assured all on board that they should be saved, he had God’s word for this, nevertheless, when he saw the sailors trying to get away froijj the ship he took prompt measures to stop them, saying, “Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.” How unlike Paul was to those who, when they find a promise of God, think the only thing to do is to sit down and fold their hands and wait for the fulfillment. It was perfectly sure that they were all' to be saved, because God had said so, but they were to be saved through Paul’s alertness, sagacity and promptness. God took all these qualities in Paul and what Paul would consequently do, into account in making his sure prom ise. True faith is far from fatalism. Paul’s healthy practicalness came out again in urging them all to eat and thus provide strength for the hard swim before them. God had undertaken their rescue but they themselves must do what lay in their own power. Paul was a man with a large bump of common sense. Some today have Paul’s faith, (or think they have) but they lack Paul’s balance and common sense. So they don’t get safe to land as Paul did. It is a beautiful sight to see Paul standing on the deck of the storm-tossed wreck, sur rounded " by frightened heathen sailors and soldiers and calmly thanking God for the food they were about to eat, and then beginning to eat with the same serenity as if he were at a family table at home. Let us also learn to give thanks to God for His bounties even when we are among the godless.
Thursday, May 17 . Acts 27 : 36 - 41 .
Faith and fear are alike contagious. One panic-stricken man will throw a whole crowd into a panic, and one man of robust faith and hearty cheer will make a whole company cheerful. And so Paul’s cheer fulness made everyone on board “of good cheer”, and, following his example, they all “took food.” How careful we ought to be of our conduct even in the little things; because of the influence it will have upon others with whom we come in contact. But there was something still left that they could do, that is they could lighten the ship by throwing the cargo overboard, and this they proceeded to do at once. The cargo was of very great value, but thej did not stop to think of that; for trying to save both ship and cargo would mean to lose their lives as well as the cargo, but by sacrificing the precious cargo they might save what was still more precious, namely, their own lives. Many a man to-day will not get safe to land because he is not will ing to sacrifice his cargo, so both himself and his possession will be lost together and lost forever (Mark 8:36). It was a great moment when morning broke (cf. 4:29 R. V. Margin), but there were still uncertain ties and perils before them.. The land was utterly unknown to them, and it was a grave question with j them whether they would be able to make a landing; but there was no longer any occasion or excuse for anxiety, they had God’s sure word of prom ise that not one life would be lost or any person injured even in the slightest degree (vs. 24, 25, 34). Part of Paul’s prediction (v. 26) was already being fulfilled before their eyes. Every step they took and every thing that occurred was only an exact ful fillment o,f what God had said (v. 22). Nevertheless, there was doubtless many an anxious heart as the vessel began to go to pieces. There was, however, one heart that was perfctly calm, Paul’s heart (cf. v. 25, Isa. 26:3).
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