November 2

But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” — Acts 27:31 BSB

The sailors were needed to save the passengers’ lives, even though Paul had said earlier that no one would die, based on a promise from an angel of God. If God’s plan was to save everyone, why did Paul say that if the sailors didn’t stay at their posts, the passengers couldn’t be saved? Was God’s promise tied to a few non-believing sailors?

God’s assurance didn’t eliminate the need for people to do their part. When God gives us a promise, it doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. Instead, we should work as if the fulfillment of the promise depended entirely on us. There’s no conflict between believing in God’s sovereignty and recognizing our responsibility. While theology might struggle to reconcile the two ideas, common sense accepts both: God has a plan, but our actions matter.

God’s purposes often hinge on our faithfulness. His promise of deliverance requires us to do our part, and if we neglect our responsibilities, we might miss out on His blessings. Trusting God’s plan doesn’t mean being idle; we must work to see it come to life.