27
To WHOM I belong!
Rod Shimabukuro[22]Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. [23]For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, [24]and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ [25]So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. [26]But we must run aground on some island.” Acts 27:22-26
Earlier in the chapter, Luke records Paul’s warning that there will be loss of life and cargo. I wonder if Paul’s time spent before the Lord, whom he worshipped, had anything to so with the change of plans? Change being that God would spare lives - that there would be no loss of life, only of the ship.
I’m awed by Paul’s relationship with Jesus, to whom He belonged and worships. It’s this kind of relationship the Paul has which I believe enables him to live with an ALL IN fervor and love for Him and His ways.
To whom I belong! How comforting! Encouraging! The embracing love and grace of God…to whom I belong! More than the affirmation and acceptance “I feel”, I’m engulfed by the presence of God, in whom I live - to whom I worship!
I direct my affections to the ONE WHOM I BELONG! I not only get to worship Him… I BELONG TO HIM! He accepts me, forgives me, welcomes me, loves me, …and a Holy ETC!
Thank you LORD GOD!!! Thank you - THANK YOU! I worship You. I want to give all to You, for You - to live for YOU with abandon. Yet I wrestle with so much of my selfish and self centered ways. Oh God… thank you for choosing me! To YOU I belong!
X
