Title: Collateral Blessing/ Topic: God's Grace

Today’s Reading: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27; Acts 28

Scripture: Acts 27:21-26
21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

Observation: Paul can't resist an "I told you so" when the ship he's on runs into severe, life-threatening trouble. He had warned them that God told him this would happen if they left their previous harbor. Now they are all despairing of life, with good reason. But an angel had come to Paul to tell him his life would be saved and that God had graciously given him all the lives of those on board ship with him. Instead of collateral damage there will be collateral blessing. Because God is not done with Paul and his ministry, God will protect and save him; and his presence saves all those with him as well.

Application: We are a source of life to those around us in ways we don't even know sometimes. Because God's hand of protection or blessing is on us, those around us often receive "collateral blessing". We need to pray that God will use us to bless others in such a way that it will be a tool we can use to share the gospel with them. When people are sick or going though a hard time, we should offer to pray for them. God will show up to prove to them that He is real. Just imagine how awful this world be with no Christians in it! Self-interest would cause a mean-spirited, caustic, and un-loving environment to rule the day. No thanks!

Prayer: Father, may we who love you see ourselves as the blessing we are in the earth. May we seek to fulfill that purpose and calling by making full use of every opportunity you give us to pray for and to bless others in your Name so that more people will come into the Kingdom and so that even those who don't will have no excuse when they stand before you. Help us to be a witness through good works and through good words.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.