MONDAY February 26, 2024
Finding Shelter
When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
Acts 27:7-8
The ship Paul traveled on was already experiencing difficulty. The winds conflicted with the course they were on. It became challenging to proceed, as the ship was not making much headway, so they decided to sail on their course under the shelter of Cyprus. The crew arrived in Myra, a city of Lycia, and there Julius the centurion found an Alexandrian ship to sail to Italy (Acts 27:3-6).
Everyone boarded the ship, but travel proved to be slow and laborious. The weather had begun to change, and winter was approaching, when traveling by sea could become arduous. Finally, after much difficulty, they arrived at Fair Havens, meaning “good harbors.” It was an open bay on the southern side of the island of Crete, and they rested there.
Think about it. Life itself can become contrary, and, at times laborious, exhausting and difficult. You may be enduring winds of financial distress, winds of ill health, winds of sorrow or winds of restlessness. God is so good to lead us to places of shelter and rest. He knows what we need and when we need a break. David the Psalmist knew in the midst of his trouble God was his rest: He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul... (Psalm 23:2-3).
In Matthew 11:28, we see Jesus as He looked out into a needy and weary crowd. He offered words of comfort and rest to the people:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Are you a troubled soul in this world that has made you weary? Come to Jesus––in Him you will find rest.
If you want rest come to Christ in Gethsemane, to Christ on Calvary, to Christ risen, to Christ ascended. If you want rest, O weary souls, ye can find it nowhere until ye come and lay your burdens down at his dear pierced feet, and find life in looking alone to him.
~C. H Spurgeon~