EmmDev 2020-04-08 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] How to behave in a Storm

How to behave in a Storm

Today's thought is a about leadership and how we as Christians should behave in a storm.

Paul is on the way to face trial in Rome. He's a prisoner and he's a Jew.
Jews were not a sea-faring nation (their most adventurous sailing was on the Sea of Galilee.)

They're sailing for Rome, but get caught in a storm for 14 days! The storm is a one big war of attrition. If you read the whole chapter you will see all the desperate measures they take to survive:
- They tie ropes around the ship
- They cast out all the anchors to slow them down
- They throw the cargo and even the ship's tackle overboard.

Luke describes it like this: "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved."
Can you imagine "finally giving up all hope"?

Just before the ship runs aground and is destroyed, there's an incredibly beautiful "Last Supper" moment when Paul leads the ship's locked-down occupants in a meal and prayer. Think about it: Paul is the prisoner. He's at the lowest rung on the social status ladder and as a Jew he has the lowest credibility when it comes to sea-faring know-how. But God uses Paul and gives him authority and influence in this situation...

Watch him in this chapter:

• He listens to God.
• He speaks up when it's needed.
• He prays
• He comforts, encourages and leads
• He calls out the sailors who selfishly try to steal a lifeboat
• He protects the vulnerable when the soldiers take a ruthless decision to kill the prisoners instead of risking escape.
• In the panic of the actual collision he's giving practical direction

During this Covid19 crisis where we're locked down and socially-distanced and facing enormous economic challenges we need to be the "calm in the storm" just like Paul was.

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35 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. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.      (Acts27:33-36)

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