And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
Acts 27:33-37
We have previously seen that the reason these men were in these desperate circumstances which required them to not eat for fourteen days was because they had ignored the warning from God through the apostle Paul. Even though it wasn’t Paul’s fault they were in this mess, he had to suffer right along with the rest of them; however, as we see in our text today, in suffering with them, Paul’s faith was put on display, and others were encouraged by what they saw.
There are many stories about early attempts by missionaries to convert Native Americans. Some missionaries came pridefully, appearing high and aloof to their hearers. Others were determined to convert men by force. But there was another group which seemed to be most preferred because, as one Native American put it, “these go about poorly dressed and barefoot just like us; they eat what we eat; they settle among us; and their intercourse with us is gentle.” In other words, these missionaries were effective because they endured the same struggles as their audience but did so trusting in the true and living God!
In 1Pe 1:6-7, we find a Christian people who “have been grieved by various trials”. What is the purpose of these trials? Per this passage, the difficulties are present so “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” God is glorified when we endure these trials by faith, steadfastly resting in our mighty Deliverer! People will pay attention when we suffer in that fashion. All the men in the boat with Paul were still in the midst of a life-threatening experience, but he believed so much that God would save them just as He had promised that he “took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all” and “began to eat.” After this display of faith, these men who had previously been scared to death, “were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.” Christian, it’s not just THAT we endure. It’s HOW we endure! God gave the apostle a captive congregation of 275 people on stormy seas in order to put his faith on display. I pray we are likewise willing to suffer so that souls might be saved.
Jamie