The Pocket Testament League Pocket Devotion, Time With Gods Word DAY 440: “A FORMULA FOR DISASTER, PART 3: IMPATIENCE” Acts 27:11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. THOUGHTS FOR TODAY: The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:29, A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man [or a man who makes quick decisions] displays folly. Ecclesiastes 7:8, The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Although it was not the season for sailing, the pilot and owner of the ship wanted to get on with the journey -- they were impatient. Unfortunately for Paul and the other prisoners, the centurion listened to what he wanted to hear: advice from experts that it was okay to proceed. Not long ago I was talking with a hard-headed young man about a problem he was having: I knew if I agreed with his solution the conversation would soon end; however, if I continued to disagree, the discussion would go on forever. I realized that he was going to do what he wanted to do regardless of what I said. I think that says a lot about our human nature. We want to do what we want -- were just looking to support our own decision. Margaret Thatcher said it best, I am extraordinarily patient as long as I get my way in the end. In our passage today, the centurion knew it was late in the season; he knew sailing had become dangerous; and he knew he would be taking great risks with the cargo, the ship and their lives; but he went ahead anyway because he wanted to. All he needed was a little positive encouragement. QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Some who read todays passage might think Im being a little hard on the centurion, after all, isnt he just following expert advice? In a similar situation as a young man, my Dad asked me, Well if your friends told you it was okay to jump off a cliff would you? The centurion had all the information he needed to make an appropriate decision, he just made the wrong one because he was impatient to get going. Take a moment right now and slow down. What decision are you rushing? Patience is a virtue which our society has turned into something negative (for example: Buy it now -- dont wait -- youve cant live without it!).
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 08:51:59 +0000