“For there stood by me this night the angel of God.”
— Acts 27:23

Tempest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of shipwreck, had
brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case; one man alone among
them remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured.
Paul was the only man who had heart enough to say, “Sirs, be of good
cheer.” There were veteran Roman legionaries on board, and brave old
mariners, and yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than they
all. He had a secret Friend who kept his courage up. The Lord Jesus
despatched a heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation in the
ear of his faithful servant, therefore he wore a shining countenance
and spake like a man at ease.

If we fear the Lord, we may look for timely interpositions when our
case is at its worst. Angels are not kept from us by storms, or
hindered by darkness. Seraphs think it no humiliation to visit the
poorest of the heavenly family. If angel’s visits are few and far
between at ordinary times, they shall be frequent in our nights of
tempest and tossing. Friends may drop from us when we are under
pressure, but our intercourse with the inhabitants of the angelic world
shall be more abundant; and in the strength of love-words, brought to
us from the throne by the way of Jacob’s ladder, we shall be strong to
do exploits. Dear reader, is this an hour of distress with you? then
ask for peculiar help. Jesus is the angel of the covenant, and if his
presence be now earnestly sought, it will not be denied. What that
presence brings in heart-cheer those remember who, like Paul, have had
the angel of God standing by them in a night of storm, when anchors
would no longer hold, and rocks were nigh.

“O angel of my God, be near,
Amid the darkness hush my fear;
Loud roars the wild tempestuous sea,
Thy presence, Lord, shall comfort me.”

On this day...

• Psalm 22 - 2024
• Psalm 21 - 2024
• Exceedingly sinful - 2012
• Encounter 4 (E4) - Witness for Christ - 2010
• Status Symbols - 2009
• A WINNING ATTITUDE - 2008
• Conforming To The Image Of His Son - 2007
• Consoled Me As A Father Would - 2007
• Irresistible Desire - 2007
• Proverb 25:11 - 2007