Paul sets off to sail for Rome, and he sees early on that the trip will have troubles. Things will not go well, including the potential loss of life. And no one listens. What do we do, when we see those we love make bad choices? What are we to do? We know that God is at work in all things, even pain and consequences. So, we pray, trusting in God to teach, protect, and guide. We trust in God, even when we see that the road ahead will be hard.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you as we continue our journey through Acts and follow Paul’s journey to Rome. Paul has now left the Holy Land, or will be leaving today, and the rest of his life will be spent either on the way to Rome or in Rome. Today, we will focus on chapter 27, where we read about Paul’s journey from Acts 27:1-12. 

In this passage, we see that Paul and some other prisoners are transferred to a centurion named Julius, who is part of the Augustan cohort, and they embark on a ship bound for Italy. During their journey, they make stops at various ports along the coast of Asia, such as Sidon, Myra, and Lycia. 

Despite the challenges they face, including unfavorable winds and dangerous sailing conditions, Paul is treated kindly by Julius. However, towards the end of the passage, we see that the centurion pays more attention to the pilot and the owner of the ship than to Paul’s warning that the voyage will be dangerous and could result in loss of cargo, ship, and life.

As we read through this passage, we can relate to the feeling of helplessness when we see our loved ones making bad decisions. Paul tries to warn the crew about the danger of their journey, but his warning goes unheeded. When we encounter similar situations in our lives, we can have conversations with our loved ones and express our concerns, but ultimately, we must respect their free will and pray for them. 

In the next few chapters, we will see how God works good even in the midst of bad decisions and difficult situations. So let us continue to love and pray for our loved ones, even when they make decisions we may not agree with. Thank you for joining me today, and I look forward to continuing our journey together tomorrow. Have a great day!