To Whom do you Belong?

We studied Acts Chapter 27 in church recently and learned many things from the text. One of the greatest lessons of the text is an affirmation of the sovereignly of God over all things. God is in control and to Him all things belong. If you don't recall the story, Paul is aboard a ship as a prisoner and is being taken to Rome for trial before Ceaser. Paul counsels against the voyage for loss of life and property, but the Centurion disregards the words of his prisoner. Providentially and just as God planned it, a massive storm develops sending the ship out of control and off course. There is a total loss of hope among the crew. The payload is jettisoned and all attempts are made to save the ship. You can just imagine the fear and the chaos that must have engulfed every occupant of the ship. Except for Paul. He somewhat sarcastically and in an 'I told you so' fashion reminds the Centurion, the Pilot and the Captain that he had in fact warned them.

When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, "Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. Acts 27:21

Then he drops the bomb that shatters the earthly authority of his captors.....

"Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. "For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'
"Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. Acts 27:22-25

A couple of observations about Paul's proclamation....

First, can you imagine the frustration at this point felt by the Centurion? Here is Paul, a prisoner and then this Centurion in a position of great authority and trusted with the welfare of other men....and then Paul proudly and quite calmly announces that he belongs to another and not to his captors. To give credence to his claims he announces the solution to the current problem. What a mighty work must have been done in the heart of the Centurion, because he listens to him! He stops his current futile efforts to save the ship and follows God's instructions as spoken by Paul. I think often times we as Christians in our post-modern humanistic world sometimes feel prisoner to the secular humanistic dogma of our day. But the reality is we should be engaging the culture like Paul, proudly proclaiming the God to whom we belong. We should know that God is in control and that He will work His will.

Second, what a liberating condition Paul was in as he was tossed about the ship sailing toward Rome. His perspective was immediately one of subjection to God's will. Paul was completely content in his situation despite the seemingly high probability of death. He was completely sure of the One who owned him. This is where we need to strive to be with God. Wow, what an impact fathers could be for God if they could just be content with what God gives them in their families, carreers, and bank accounts....forsaking their own worldly desires and fulfilling their God ordained roles as priest, prophet, and king....discipling their families in the Word, providing for their welfare, and protecting their honor.

I thing this is one of the major struggles of Christians today....especially for fathers. So, when you feel like a prisoner to the world, remember who you are and keep up your courage and know that God is in total control.

Happy Independence Day

On July 3, 1776, the day following the approval by Congress of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."
-from "America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations" p.200

Remember that as you celebrate Independence Day, it was in its declaration, considered to be a day of deliverance from an evil tyrant, by the protection of Divine Providence.

To this you were called....Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Have you ever had one of those marital moments when you just didn't understand how people stay married longer than one day? Fortunately by the grace of God those moments have been few for Heather and me. We have both been instructed by the examples of our own parents and daily guidance by the Holy Spirit. On June 30th, my parents celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary mom and dad! While I have never been a witness to any real strife in their marriage, I know they will confess that it hasn't been easy and that without the amazing saving grace of Jesus they would not be married today.

The family and marriage were the first of God's ordained earthly institutions and so He has much to say about it. Ephesians 5 tells us that the relationship between a husband and wife is a great mystery and that it is a picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ the bridegroom and his bride the church, requiring a wife to be submissive to her husband in the same way that we all are to Jesus and for husbands to love their wives just as Jesus loves the church. 1 Peter 3 reminds us that this won't be easy.

"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands..." 1 Peter 3:1

The "in the same way" refers us back to the previous chapter where Peter writes of suffering for Christ just as Christ suffered for us.

"...But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:20-21 (emphasis added)

So, in the same way (suffering for Christ) wives be submissive to your husbands and husbands in the same way (suffering for Christ) be considerate and respectful of your wives.

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 1 Peter 3:7

There's more....in addition, we all are admonished to live in harmony with sympathy, love, compassion, humility, refraining from evil deeds and insults, but giving blessings one to another (1 Peter 3:8-9).

There are many directions to go from here, but I want to stay on course. By the grace of Jesus Christ my parents have done this for 44 years. Not on their own, but only by the grace of Jesus Christ, guidance of the Holy Spirit and a firm reliance on God.

The result of the husband being considerate and respectful to his wife as unto Christ and her submission to him and by following the additional admonishments in 1 Peter 3:8-9 is the inheritance of God's blessing. The blessing that your days will be prolonged by the multiplication of descendants. Pieces coming together yet? Consider this from Hebrews to tie it all in.

"When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

"Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:13-20

It's all through the grace of Jesus who interposed on behalf of our sins on the cross that men and women achieve 44 years of marriage in a fallen world. Thank you mom and dad for your Godly example in love, life, and marriage.