13 October 2010
Psalm 119:1-24; Jonah 1:17-2:10; Acts 27:9-26; Luke 9:1-17

Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish is remarkable in that he has great faith that even here God can deliver him. In the first two days did he have no hope and then suddenly realize he had lived and that God may have done this? Have you ever felt that circumstances have swallowed hope? Jonah’s prayer is certainly not a set of magic words that compel God to change your circumstances but it is important that we remember, like Jonah, that no matter where we are, God is sovereign over all things and that He is worthy of our worship without respect to our circumstances. Sometimes He doesn’t change our circumstances but, rather, He changes us in our circumstances.

The disciples get their first taste of what it will be like for them after Jesus is gone. They see that the Holy Spirit working through them allows them to do the things Jesus has done, surely the memory of this will sustain and empower them with boldness in the apostolic mission. They have seen Jesus do many things but they lack the faith for the feeding of this multitude that has followed based on their work and ministry. Jesus, however, challenges their faith one more time, is there anything of which He is not capable? Can you imagine the conversation among them as they carry out the instructions Jesus gave to have this crowd sit down and their conversation as they picked up the leftovers? They knew what resources they had and they know that there is more leftover than what they started with, even after feeding 5000 people.

The sailors ignored Paul’s word of warning/prophecy in leaving Crete because they were so focused on the destination. Their failure to heed the warning cost them both the destination and the ship. While he does get in an “I told you so”, he gives encouragement that, in spite of the loss, their lives will be saved. The decision still needed to be made to trust God and lose the ship in order to save the lives. Have you ever faced such a decision, to let go of something important and choose the more important? Our priorities sometimes need correction.

I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.