Acts 28:7-10

                                                         Acts 28:7-10

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

 

The ship Paul was on was blown across the ocean completely out of the sailor’s control.  However, God was clearly controlling it and brought it near the island of Malta before destroying the ship and saving Paul and all the passengers.  This was not just random storm with a random result.  God was at work to provide for both the passengers and the inhabitants of an island that was in need of help and hope.

 

MALTA IS MARKED BY HOSPITALITY: Not only did the residents of the island receive Paul and the rest of the ship well, but the leading man of the island, Publius welcomed them into his home and hosted them for three days.  This is extreme generosity and an example of hospitality that we all should be willing to follow.  When there are strangers in distress that the Lord brings across our path, we should assume that the Lord is doing something important that we should not ignore.  Our homes should be places of blessing for the people God brings our way.  Our guests should see the love of Christ exemplified in our homes and hospitality.

 

MALTA IS MARKED BY HEALING: Publius was a blessing and ended up receiving a blessing in return.  His father was sick, which makes his hospitality even more impressive.  He could not have known that one of his guests was the Apostle Paul who was gifted by God to heal.  When Paul learns of the situation, he heals the man.  When word of this spread through the island, many other sick people were brought to Paul, and they too were healed.  When we are hospitable, the largest blessings are usually experienced by the host, not the guests.  It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

 

MALTA IS MARKED BY HONORING: Once another ship was available, Paul and his companions were loaded on board, and they set off for Rome.  However, the entire island came out to honor Paul.  He had arrived as a misjudged criminal but was leaving as a hero.  God had orchestrated this shipwreck to bless this island.  We do not have any revelation about the spiritual ramifications of Paul’s time on Malta.  I am relatively certain that we will hear the testimonies of believers from that island who will point back to this encounter as a time when the placed their faith in Christ.  There is no greater honor than to be part of the spiritual birthing process of the children of God.

 

APPLICATION: Open your home to those God places around you especially if they are strangers who the Lord is clearly orchestrating an encounter.  Be prepared to be a blessing to those who are in need.  As a guest look for opportunities to serve and encourage your hosts.  Trust the Lord, share your faith and honor those God uses to help you grow in Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not   to teach any different doctrine,   nor   to devote themselves to myths and endless   genealogies, which promote   speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.    The aim of our charge is love   that issues from a pure heart and   a good conscience and   a sincere faith.    Certain persons, by   swerving from these, have wandered away into   vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law,   without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.   There will always be false teachers that come into the church attempting to distract people from the truth and destroy people’s faith.  When this happens, it is the job of spiritually mature leaders to confront these false teachers and correct their teachings.  However, it is important that this correction be accomplished with the right motives and methods. 
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more