Acts 27:23

Acts 27: 23 says, For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Paul told them an angel of God had appeared to him, of which he said, "Whose I am, and Who I serve," telling him not to fear.  Verse twenty-four adds, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.  Paul had to appear before Caesar, and God was giving all them that sailed with him to Paul.  Paul said he was God's and he served Him.  We need to be able to say the same.  We readily claim salvation, but often have to be dragged to service. In the Air Force, there was an expression, "Never volunteer.” Sometimes, I think it carries over into the church as well.  We volunteer others quickly enough, but not ourselves.  God was not giving those on the ship to Paul that he might own them.  He was sparing their lives because of Paul.  They had not listened to Paul, but God was not punishing them because of that.  When we lead someone to a saving knowledge of God, we do not own them. They owe us nothing.  If they refuse to listen, God is not going to strike them dead at that moment.  Those on the ship with Paul were saved physically, so there was hope they could be saved spiritually.  Our task is to witness. God does the saving. Verse twenty-five continues, Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.  Again, Paul told them to be of good cheer because  he believed God.  No matter the circumstances, if we are following God's direction, we need to be of good cheer. Verse twenty-six concludes, Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island.   He then told them that they would be cast upon a certain island.  I am not sure we would be of good cheer if we had just been told we were going to be shipwrecked, especially if we were not saved, but they had been told they would live. If we were told that we would lose everything of value, but would live, would we be of good cheer?  As a Christian, that is what we are asked to do.  Even if we lose everything in this world, which eventually we will, for we can certainly take nothing with us, we have life eternal, so we need to always be of good cheer.