May 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 27:13–15

Devotional

Paul was on a ship in the midst of a storm. The captain gave the ship up to the waves and the wind for the crew could not handle the ship any longer. Maybe the ship would break against the rocks. It was a very difficult experience for the people on that ship. This terrible storm lasted more than fourteen days. They were fourteen days with death in front of them. But Paul encouraged them that they would all safely arrive on land but that all their belongings would be lost.

Their belongings were in fact lost, for to lighten the ship, cargo was thrown overboard. After that, all their instruments and tackle were thrown overboard. They had to lose everything. The crew surrendered themselves to God’s will. When some of the crew wanted to escape in a lifeboat, Paul told them that they could not be saved if they disobeyed. Next the lifeboat was cut off. They had nothing left, but in this way they all arrived safely on shore.

In spiritual life, matters are no different. The church of God will be saved but all our possessions must remain behind. And it bothers us. We object to free grace because we want to be saved and yet maintain ourselves. We think we can arrive at the eternal shore with our full suitcases. We want to be something and we want to offer God something.

In reality, however, even the last means of saving ourselves has to be cut off. What a struggle this is! We are willing to admit that we sin and that we are guilty, but we still think we have done good things. We would like to take our conversion with us, or our experiences, or our prayers. But to be saved we have to lose everything. Nothing from our earthly side can save us. Even our most holy actions are stained with sin. The Lord has a people of whom He does not expect anything but to whom He is willing to give everything. Everything we need is provided at the eternal shore.

Faith understands this. Faith takes hold of God’s Word and it lets go of everything related to self. The life of faith can be likened to a ship. We let her drive. We learn to float upon the Word of God, the love of God, the faithfulness of God, and His grace. In this way, Christ becomes so very precious.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.