What to do and not do during a crisis
In Acts 27 we hear a fascinating story about Paul’s third mission trip; he was traveling to Rome. There was a huge storm that was so powerful they couldn’t control the boat. And in the middle of this storm the sailors decided to do three things we should never do in the middle of a crisis. Acts 27:15b says, “we gave up trying and let it be carried along by the wind.” (GNT)
1. Never, never give up. Stand firm. Paul says, a few times in the New Testament, “So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (GNT).
2. Another mistake that the sailors made is found in verse 19, “and on the following day they threw part of the ship's equipment overboard” (GNT). Don’t throw away your equipment -- the good things that you have. Don’t throw away your marriage, your relationships, and don’t throw away your principles. Here in the U.S. as well as many other countries (probably every country) we have heard that violence and abuse in the home has gone up during this time; people are letting go of their principles. Don’t throw away your principles, don’t throw away the good things you have. Keep the good things. Keep faith. Keep hope. Keep love.
3. Verse 20 says, “We finally gave up all hope of being saved” (GNT). Never give up hope. Please, don’t ever give up hope. The Word of God talks to us a lot about hope. Paul says, ‘Jesus Christ himself is our hope of glory.”
But there are also things we must do during this time. Verse 22 says, “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer” (KJV). Don’t be discouraged.
1. Verse 24 says, “Don’t be afraid.” We find these words “Don’t be afraid”, so many times in the Bible. It’s repeated multiple times!
2. Verse 25 says, “For I trust in God” (GNT). These are the words Paul spoke to the sailors. Let’s put all our trust in God.
3. Verse 33-38 talks about how we must take care of ourselves and take care of those around us. That’s why in verse 34 Paul says, “I beg you, then, eat some food” (GNT). He goes on to say that it’s good for their health. Let’s take care of our health. Let’s eat healthy, exercise, read the Bible, and pray. Then verse 35 goes on to say, “After saying this, Paul took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, broke it, and began to eat” (GNT). Paul had a lot of faith. He said in verse 34, “Not even a hair of your heads will be lost” (GNT). Let’s keep our faith alive every day.
I hope that you will take the things you should do and not do and put them into practice during this time.
