No Matter What

In Acts 27, Paul is taken in chains to Rome. He warns the crew who captured him that a storm was coming that could not only cause them to lose all their cargo, their ship but their very lives. They ignored his advice and set sail. After a few days, a fierce wind called “the northeaster” struck land and battered their ship against the rocky shore. Paul describes how long and how violent the storm was … “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and no small tempest lay upon us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.” Paul, although a prisoner, stood up and courageously told them “You should’ve listened to me. But take heart, there will be no loss of life. An angel visited me and told me… The Lord wants me to stand before Caesar…”

Paul was committed to sharing the Gospel and being faithful to whatever assignment God had given him NO MATTER WHAT. Even though he was in chains, he was committed to being faithful to the Lord.

What if we begin to live like that? Could’ve been focused only on the chains on his wrists. He could’ve thought day and night “Lord, how are you going to get me out of this!?” Instead, he thought “Lord what are YOU doing in the midst of this? What purposes are place for me to be imprisoned? Who am I to minister to?” Sure, he didn’t want to be captured against his will. But he didn’t let his condition affect his calling. He knew he was called to be an apostle and share the Gospel all through that region. He was committed to that calling no matter what. What are you committed to? … no matter what. When we properly fear God we will give Him the respect He deserves and follow through on that respect with obedience. If we fear man, we’ll stop. We’ll give up. We’ll cave into demands to be silent about Jesus. We won’t step out to do what God is asking us to do. Are you committed to Jesus and sharing the Gospel … no matter what!?