Breaking Bread - Acts 27:35-36

Acts 27:35-36 After Paul said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. (NIV)

            It was a desperate moment. The Roman galley that Paul was traveling to Rome in, was about to be shipwrecked. The soldiers, sailors, passengers, and prisoners were panicking and all hope seemed to be lost. In the midst of a terrifying storm with breakers all around them, no one thought they were going to survive.

            Except for Paul. He knew that this was all part of God’s immense plan to bring the Gospel of Christ before the Emperor in Rome. He understood that his mission still needed to be completed. He could have taken his chances, jumped overboard, and perhaps survived in order to escape his captivity. Instead, Paul gathered the people on board together, broke some bread in front of them, and publicly gave thanks to God. He wanted to show them that the apostle’s faith in God was absolute and that they had nothing to fear.

            It worked. The ship’s crew and all the others also ate some bread; perhaps, they too gave thanks to Paul’s God. Whatever they did, their survival was assured because Paul was completely confident that God would save them all.

            Perhaps you’re going through an unsettling time or are currently experiencing some trouble. Maybe you’ve had bad news or been given unexpected health concerns. Perhaps a family member is struggling or you’ve recently been disappointed. Whatever your circumstances, make time to let God be part of what you are going through. Ask God for strength and support, as well as giving Him thanks for just allowing you to voice your concerns and raise your worries in prayer. You may also like to take some bread and break it quietly in His presence, allowing yourself to feel His peace in your mind, heart, body, and soul. It works – just ask the apostle Paul 😊

Point to ponder

Do I need God’s help today? Am I willing to ask Him for what I need?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, break bread with us today, so we may know that You are with us. Guide us through our present situations and enable us to retain our faith and hope in Your everlasting love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Communion drawings called “New Day.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: NewDay.

June 5 devotional - Nothing New

1 John 5:20    We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

            The Apostle John lived in a multicultural and diverse world. The Roman Empire contained many different people from all sorts of backgrounds, nations, and religions. The success of the Empire lay not just in its military strength, but also in its tolerance of different cultures. Romanization of different ethnic groups and races did not involve the complete wiping out of local traditions, gods, and cultures. As long as people did not rebel and paid homage by paying taxes to the Emperor, they could remain under the protection of Rome.

            However, when Christianity appeared on the scene, it came into conflict with the Roman authorities almost immediately. The fact that Christ had been crucified under Roman Law meant that His followers were seen as insurrectionists who could not be tolerated or allowed to grow across the Empire. This is why so many of Christ’s original disciples were martyred; they were considered to be hostile extremists whose sole mission was to bring down the Roman Empire. In fact, only the Apostle John who wrote today’s verse, lived to a ripe old age, albeit in exile on a lonely island in the Aegean Sea.

            John was writing his first letter to new Christians who may have been frightened by the persecuting power of the Roman authorities. He expressed to them his absolute certainty that Jesus was sent by God in order to lead people to the Truth, so that his readers would know where and from whom to find eternal life. John states it simply and succinctly: ‘we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.’

            Today, we have the opportunity of sharing in and experiencing the same reality. Christ alone forgives our sins, draws us to God, and grants us eternal life. In a cosmopolitan, multicultural world, this is currently interpreted as being narrow-minded, exclusive, and intolerant. So what’s new? Those were the very same criticisms and charges that were raised against the Apostle John and the First Century Christians – why should we think that the world would see us any differently?

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me a Christian? Do I accept John’s ancient words that Jesus is the true God and eternal life? Why?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all seeking the Truth so that our lives can be lived out purposefully, genuinely, and effectively. Keep us mindful of the original beliefs that the Apostles like John had and which the First Christians embraced. In Your Holy Name, may we remain devoted to You. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make a comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Please feel free to share and forward this message to your friends and families.

Today’s image is one of John’s Pentecost drawings called “Spirit Window.” You can view a larger version at the following link: Spirit Window.