The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were sailing toward Rome, and although Paul warned them not to leave Crete and a storm arose, “when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, you should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God has given you all them that sail with you. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “we must be cast upon a certain island” where we read:
Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
The verse begins, “Howbeit we must ...” Luke began with the word, “Howbeit” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover” “we must be” or “it is necessary and needful that we, Paul and the others aboard the ship exist” according to the following. Luke shared how “Paul” told the men aboard the ship they need to have the following happen to them.
The verse continues, “... be cast upon a certain island.” Luke added the words, “be cast upon” which means “fall, driven and be thrown upon” “a certain island” or “a particular isle or island”. Luke shared how “Paul” said all the men aboard the ship would be thrown upon a particular island.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told the men aboard the ship they would have to be “cast” upon a particular island. Their lives would be spared, but they would have to exist upon an “island” for some time. God's plan for “Paul” was being fulfilled, and He reassured “Paul” that He was with him. God's intention was to have “Paul” share the gospel with the people in Rome, and He desires to have the world know about His Son Jesus today. Anyone who yields to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise surrender to Jesus who cares for people even when they are unaware whether they will survive or not.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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