Acts_27
Scripture
Observation-What does it say?
Paul is on his way to Rome to speak to Caesar on a ship that faces a grave torrent storm. Just the trip he needed after having been in prison for years, flogged, death plotted against him, and having stood before leaders giving his testimony of God’s grace poured out over his life. Paul should have received the death penalty from God. Instead, he is chosen to be the messenger of grace by the long awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Understanding-What does it mean?
“...the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.”
I noticed that the Greek word for I belong is “eimi” which means I exist or I am. I can’t help to think that this phrase “I belong” was so much deeper than just saying that you “ belong” to someone the way a slave belongs to a master or maybe something more intimate the way beloveds “belong” to each other. I can't help to believe that Paul was saying “...the God to whom I “exist”. Paul exists like if he had tucked himself inside of God the way a baby is tucked in their mother’s womb and he literally was living and breathing because of God sustaining his life. Serving God was not an option. He should have been dead so many times over, not just physically but eternally, and God chose him. God met him in his sin and brought him to life, thus he “exists.”
Life Application
Father, we need you, I need you! Your grace and your mercy encase me. I need to stay in you always by reading your word, worship, prayer, and fellowship. Holy Spirit always bring to remembrance being tucked inside of God and now I live and move and have my being because of Him. In all the storms of life, when I am being tossed by the happenings of life; the bills, the chores, our jobs, marriage… and grossly off course with danger all around me, help me to know that I belong, I exist, I am in Him and he is in me!
-Deborah Lee