SCRIPTURE: Acts 28:1-16
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Lord provides. A warm reception, gracious hospitality and supplies for the journey. Christ-followers (“brothers”) in Puteoli, and more who traveled from Rome to meet Paul and escort him to the city. The Lord’s favour is with Paul, but not just for Paul’s comfort and ease, but for the Lord’s purpose. The enemy tries everything to prevent His purpose in Paul – the trial, the shipwreck, the viper, even the people thinking of Paul as a god. But Paul perseveres, and the Lord preserves him for His purpose. Even more, he uses Paul to show other people His power over sickness and suffering, through healing many.
Do we see ourselves as victims or as underdogs? Or do we see ourselves as servants of the Most High God, confident that all things will work out for the good of those who love Him. This is not a guarantee of an easy life (as Paul’s life demonstrates), but of a good life, or a life with good purpose and effect. Instead about complaining about my circumstances, I need to see my circumstances as the stage where the Lord wants to fulfill His purpose in/through me.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You that ALL of my life fits within Your plan and purpose, and that You have good things in mind for me, but also through me. Help me to surrender myself to Your purpose everyday! Amen.
God moves in mysterious ways. After exoeriencing the hand of God by safely coming to the shore, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake. The local people had their way of explaining the happenings, but it wasn’t God’s ways. Once again we see God in control. God using the common to show His presence and ministering to those who can’t see Him. Paul’s act of service in gathering the firewood to dry out from the shipwreck was used to proclaim the Gospel. Paul left the region with all the supplies he needed that the people had provided . no – the Lord had provided.
I need to see Jesus in the daily happenings in my life AND daily I need to apply the Word of God in my life so that others may see Jesus in me. Just see how the people related to Paul – the invites to stay, the hospitality, the encouragement and God’s presence.
Lord, help me to be an encouragement to those I meet and greet in Your name today. Make me an instrument of Your peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.