Simple Faith

Among the bible stories, one of my favorite is the simple story of Paul and the ship he was on, namely the one in Acts 27. I particularly enjoy this story because of its great showing of the good that can come of simple faith and willingness to listen to the words of God. During this sailing journey of Paul's, which ends by Shipwreck, a lot happens around him. However, I would like to focus on the people he speaks to and how they have shown faith by following and believing in him. For instance, in verses 31-32 Paul warns some soldiers that as long as the sailors do no leave the ship they all will live, but if they leave no one will. What is important about this is that the soldiers act in faith and prevent the sailors from leaving the ship, trusting that what Paul had said earlier about them all living would be true. This shows faith, even if only a small amount. Faith is again shown by the people on the boat when in verses 33-36 Paul broke bread and and declared that everyone who had fasted should eat for they would be healthy and live (at this point they were in the process of lightening their ship so they could survive). Obviously people would be happy to eat, but what was truly showing of their faith was when the people of the ship cast cast out the wheat out, believing fully that when Paul said they would all live they would and thus they didn't need to keep the food on the ship anymore. I find it incredible that through the simple faith that what this prophet before them said would e true, these people continued to act the way they did. I feel they ultimately lived through the shipwreck because of their faith. What I would challenge is to follow Jesus in a simple but strong faith similar to how these people on the ship followed Paul, for I feel it will help you reach the Celestial Kingdom greatly.