Acts 28:1-6

                                                             Acts 28:1-6

After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

 

We rarely know why God does what He chooses to do.  It may not make any since to us for Paul to have so much suffering and danger on the way to Rome.  However, this appears to have been a shipwreck with a purpose.  The people on this island are about to see the power of God at work in a way that would change the lives and eternal destinies of many in this place.  Eternity will most certainly reveal that God knew what He was doing.

 

SEEK TO BE MERCIFULL: When the shipwreck passengers arrived on the island of Malta, they were treated with kindness and mercy.  It was cold and rainy, and they found a warm fire burning and were welcomed in peace.  Kindness to strangers is one of the blessings of common grace.  When we see people in trouble, even if we don’t know who they are, our tendency is to try to relieve some of that trouble.  If this is part of common grace for unbelievers, it should be even more evident in the lives of believers.  We should always seek to bless those we don’t know especially with the message of the Gospel and the love of Jesus.

 

AVOID MISJUDGMENT: As Paul was picking up wood, a deadly venomous snake bit his hand.  Once again, we see Paul facing great danger but experiencing supernatural protection at the same time. It is interesting to see the reaction of the people on the island.  They immediate declare him to be a terrible person since even though he survived the shipwreck he was now being killed by a snake.  However, when no harm came to Paul, they immediately declared him to be a god.  These are two extreme misjudgments.  It is dangerous to jump to conclusions based on what we think we know.  Things are often very different than they appear to us.  We must take care to avoid judging things that may be beyond our knowledge.  

 

APPLICATION: Show kindness to strangers that reflects the love of Christ.  Go beyond the expected and do the unexpected in the name of our Lord and then look for opportunities to show the ultimate kindness of sharing the Gospel with others.  Be careful about judging other people and the circumstances they face.  Illness and disaster are not always signs of God’s judgment or disapproval; they may be God opening a door for the advance of His kingdom.

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