Charles Swindoll writes: 

                 We see bumper stickers that say “I’d rather be sailing”

                 or “I’d rather be fishing” but no one says “I’d rather

                 be sinking”, “I’d rather be ship wrecked”.

The bottom of the ocean is strewn with the carcasses of ships that go down in the crashing waves and fog of sea storms. And the storms of life yield casualties as well. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have an emergency plan, survival gear, and the instinct to face the storm head-on?

Perhaps you have experienced a plunge to the ocean floor a few times, and by grace and good fortune been able to rise back to the surface to tell the tale. But how will you handle the haunting ghosts of a personal shipwreck?

I want to suggest some spiritual anchors to keep life stable. I will lift these anchors directly from the account of Paul’s voyage to Rome found in Acts 27.

                              Perspective + Hope + Promise + Encouragement

Obviously there are other ‘anchors for life’ that we could add to this list. But this is a good start. None of the four really work unless God is at the centre of each one.

Oh – one last theme: Paul is on his ‘death march’ – Rome will be the end of the road/voyage for him – yet he is concerned for others, does not try to escape, and displays a confidence/acceptance of God’s plan. Perhaps a little reminder of Jesus in all of this?

Two verses to keep in mind with all of this:

Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.“

Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

For Sunday July 27, 2014                                                                Acts 27