July 25, 2023 8:00 pm
In June 1965, six Tongan teenagers sailed from their island home in search of adventure. But when a storm broke their mast and rudder the first night, they drifted for days without food or water before reaching the uninhabited island of ‘Ata. It would be fifteen months before they were found.
The boys worked together on ‘Ata to survive, setting up a small food garden, hollowing out tree trunks to store rainwater, even building a makeshift gym. When one boy broke his leg from a cliff fall, the others set it using sticks and leaves. Arguments were managed with mandatory reconciliation, and each day began and ended with singing and prayer. When the boys emerged from their ordeal healthy, their families were amazed—their funerals had already been held.
Being a believer in Jesus in the first century could be an isolating experience. Persecuted for your faith and often stranded from family, one could feel adrift. The apostle Peter’s encouragement to such castaways was to stay disciplined and prayerful (1 Peter 4:7), to look after each other (v. 8), to manage arguments (v. 9), and use whatever abilities one has to get the work done (vv. 10–11). In time, God would bring them through their ordeal strong and steadfast (5:10).
In times of trial, “castaway faith” is needed. Those Tongan teens showed us the way. We pray and work in solidarity, and God brings us through.
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Thanks for joining us for today's edition of the Our Daily Bread devotional. Our reading today was written by Sheridan Voisey, and he titled it, Castaway Faith. In June 1965, six Tongan teenagers sailed from their island home in search of adventure. But when a storm broke their mast and rudder the first night, they drifted for days without food or water before reaching the uninhabited island of Attah.
It would be 15 months before they were found. The boys worked together on Attah to survive, setting up a small food garden, hollowing out tree trunks to store rainwater, even building a makeshift gem. When one boy broke his leg from a cliff fall, the others set it using sticks and leaves. Arguments were managed with mandatory reconciliation, and each day began and ended with singing and prayer. When the boys emerged from their ordeal healthy, their families were amazed.
Their funerals had already been held. Being a believer in Jesus in the first century could be an isolating experience. Persecuted for your faith and often stranded from family, one could feel adrift. The Apostle Peter's encouragement to such castaways was to stay disciplined and prayerful, to look after each other and use whatever abilities one has to get the work done. In time, God would bring them through their ordeal strong, firm, and steadfast. In times of trial, castaway faith is needed. We pray and work in solidarity, and God brings us through. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 7 through 11.
Whatever gift you have received, to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.
Amen. Let's pray. God, give us castaway faith to face times of difficulty well. When faced with the mistreatment of others, help us turn to you for guidance and grace. Give us strength to endure and words that reflect your presence and power in our lives. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-07-25 21:05:19 / 2023-07-25 21:06:50 / 2
