Thanks for joining us for today's edition of the Our Daily Bread Devotional. Our

Reading Today was written by Sheridan Voicy, 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 Atah. It would be 15 months before they were found.

The boys worked together on Atah 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 clifffall, 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 1st Peter 4,

verses 7 through 11.

The end of all things is near, therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks,

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