It is one thing to tell someone to have faith in God. It is another thing altogether to walk through a trial with someone demonstrating faith in God. As we live, walk and breath our trust and hope in God, we are able to show others how to do so as well.
Paul was on a ship that was in serious trouble. He was surrounded by those who did not believe. Paul prayed. An angel visited Paul and encouraged him. Paul shared the message of encouragement with the people around him. “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. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 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.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” ” (Acts 27:21–26, NIV84)
Paul’s expression of trust was simple. “for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” However Paul needed to live that faith. He had two more weeks of enduring a trial with the crew of the ship. About two weeks later, as the ship approached land, fear set in. “Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. ” (Acts 27:29–30, NIV84)
Paul continued in his unwavering trust of God’s promise to him. “Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away. ” (Acts 27:31–32, NIV84)
Paul also encouraged the crew. Paul reminded them of what God had told Paul. Paul reminded the crew that God wanted them to live. He then became an expression of faith as he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and ate. That expression of faith prompted the crew to do likewise. “After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ” (Acts 27:35–37, NIV84)
All 276 crew were saved because Paul prayed, heard God and lived and shared his faith.
There are people around us who need to know that God does not want them dead, but alive. There are people around us who do not know how to live by faith and are watching us to learn how to trust God.
The crisis you are in may not be one you deserve or you caused. You may be in a crisis with people around you so that you can demonstrate and teach the people to become people of faith. If you are in a crisis, seek God, hear God, obey God, and share what God is doing with the people around you.
Because of the crisis, 276 shipmates experienced the power of God. Because of the crisis Malta learned about Christ. Today, 98% of Malta is part of some Christian community.
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