The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 27:9-11, “And when considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship, than by what was being said by Paul.”

All travel has the potential of risk. It’s not always airplanes and ships that have risk. Just walking where you’ve walked before has an element of risk. It’s not always possible to know ahead of time what will occur. It just makes sense to be careful in every situation.

Paul was being taken to Rome. He was a prisoner under the care of a Roman centurion. The boat on which they were sailing was as good as any, I suppose. But already they had encountered some strong winds and tough seas. Paul was an out-spoken man. His assessments of situations came the LORD, and he spoke his mind, saying eminent danger lay ahead. Not only were they in danger of losing the ship’s cargo, they were in danger of losing their lives!

We’re not always as perceptive as Paul. Most of the time, we think we can survive and even turn things around. All will be well. But, will it? Whom do we trust in serious situations? Usually, we seek counsel from those who have themselves lived through such dangerous situations. The centurion listened to the pilot, the captain of the ship. That seemed logical. Who would believe that a ship’s captain had not previously encountered dangers on the sea –and survived? Paul, however, lacked the experience of the captain; but, he had a source of information the captain did not have. Moreover, Paul’s “source” cared for his future.

It’s quite normal for us to seek information about potential danger from others. But, do we inquire and listen to God?

Many things only require time. Why do we get in such a hurry? I remember an account of a Japanese man, who was intending to visit a neighboring city. He was mysteriously delayed; and when he came over the hill, he saw that the city had been devastated. It was Nagasaki–1945! Never push the clock. Let the LORD work out the circumstances. To do otherwise is to risk His plan for your life.

You are always in our loving prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”