Submission: God's Cure for Crisis Part 3

Paul's Submission to God's Love

Acts 27: 21-26 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island."

Do you believe love is a feeling? What do you feel like when you are "in love" Have you ever considered love to be more to be an action verb rather than a description of of emotion? I suspect Paul was not leaning on emotion or feeling to determine his next course of action. Paul would have probably felt betrayed, belittle, and bewildered, but that does not seem to effect his behavior to those on the ship in crisis.

When we think of the love of God assume some kind of all covering warm feeling of security. Submission to God's love has to be shown to others to be genuine love of God. Paul's submission in this crisis shows God's love by his focus on others rather than himself and his comfort.

Paul's submission was shown by his stay close to God during the crisis. Unlike Jonah who was also in a ship in crisis, he ran from God's presence and he had to be compelled to even to pray. What selfishness to rest, sleep and seek one's own comfort the priority. Paul on the other hand made prayer for others and guidance of service. He was not afraid to reveal to others about his relationship to an all powerful God who is up close and personal. Many times all that we do is complain, blame, and fight for survival. When we face hardship God should be the first and only destination for the telling of grief and seeking of wisdom.

Paul's submission was shown by his meeting the physical needs of his shipmates. When facing stress and conflict the natural response is to seek one's own welfare. To horde all resources, and work for number one. The world would tell us if we don't care for ourselves, who will? Again Paul does just the opposite. When he sees that the others have been so distraught by disaster he appears ready, willing and able to meet the need of food and comfort to them above his own. When it is easier to run and self-protect, God is well pleased when His love to us is transferred to serving others when all others do not.

Paul's submission is shown by his meeting the spiritual needs of his ship mates. It is all well and good to strive for the physical comfort of others. However, that is an incomplete mission at best. What good is it to comfort in this life and leave eternity of hell and suffering in that persons future. Paul bravely mixed the Gospel and worship of God with the meat that he dispensed. It is certainly more desirable to present the God to the lost by first showing the concern for their physical comfort. It was the way Jesus did his ministry. But as Jesus is heal and comfort He also made sure He never neglected what His true purpose was to "seek and to save..."

Love is without a doubt and action verb, that when performed God's way can lead to good feelings. Truly the Love from God was not meant for our security alone but to be channeled from God through us out to others around us. And there is no better time to do this than when others are complaining, hurting, and even rebelling authority.

Next: Paul's Submission to God's Promises