Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

April 10– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“For there stood by me this very night the angel of God.” 

—Acts 27:23

This was a night of storms and prolonged darkness. The Apostle Paul and the crew on the ship were in imminent danger of shipwreck. It was a terrifying situation. But Paul remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured. He was the only man who was able to say, “Gentlemen, be encouraged.” There were veteran Roman legionnaires on board and brave old mariners, and yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than all of them. He had a secret Friend who encouraged him. The Lord Jesus dispatched a heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation in Paul’s ear; therefore, he was able to smile and spoke like a man at ease.

If we fear the Lord, we will encounter times when our circumstances will be at their worst. But seraphs are not kept from us by storms or hindered by darkness. Angels think it no humiliation to visit the poorest of the heavenly family. If angel visits are few and far between during ordinary times, they will be more frequent in our nights of tempest and tossing. Friends may leave us when we are under pressure, but our interaction with the inhabitants of the angelic world will be more abundant. We will gain strength by reading the Father’s words of love, brought to us from his throne by way of Jacob’s ladder, and we will be strong to do heroic activities.

Dear reader, is this an hour of distress with you? If so, then ask for special help. Jesus is the angel of the covenant, and, if his presence is earnestly sought, it will not be denied. His presence brings encouragement, and there are many who, like Paul, have had the angel of God standing by them in a night of storm, when anchors no longer held and rocks were near.

“O angel of my God, be near; amid the darkness hush my fear;
Though loudly roars the wild sea; your presence, Lord, will comfort me.” [M&E]