Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Acts 27 before reading the devotional below.
Have you noticed that Paul seems to be in charge no matter where he is? In prison, he gains favor with the guards and saves the day when the jail breaks open and the jailer thinks everyone is going to escape. On trial, he takes command of each situation and becomes an influencer in the lives of the highest ranking officials. In today’s passage, Paul is on a boat to Rome and he manages to turn into a commanding officer. Turns out the supernatural gifts of the Spirit give you a whole lot of power.
Notice verses 23-26: an angel directly visits Paul in the midst of a storm at sea that seems pretty sure to kill them all. Classic angel intro (“don’t be afraid”), followed by a reminder that Paul is on a mission to Rome and to Rome he will go. God is also interested in the lives of the soldiers and his intent is to save everyone from the storm. Fortunately, the sailors start listening to Paul and they all survive the horrible shipwreck. Paul is operating in his prophetic and leadership gifts in order to help everyone make it to safety.
Everything you are and all that you have is from God. Your life is a pile of gifts. But sometimes those gifts have been ransacked and torn apart and you wonder if God ever really gave you anything. Paul’s leadership gifts created in him by God were destructive until Jesus encountered him and poured out more refining gifts of salvation and the Spirit. Your real power lies in living the life God made you to live — whole and free and empowered. Anything less is not his design.