BIBLE READING

Acts 28: 1-10

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

There was an estate near by that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was ill in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of those on the island who were ill came and were cured. They honoured us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

REFLECTION

As we finish up this study of on the storm that Paul faced, I hope you have found it helpful. Look at verse 6:

“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”

This is funny and sad at the same time! They just stand staring at Paul, waiting on him to die. They’re waiting on him to fall over. He just looks right back at them – the snake is sizzling in the fire beside him.

He doesn’t fall, he doesn’t die, so look at how they change their minds – they decide he’s a god!

The bottom line is this: you can’t live your life according the opinions of others. Some will think too little of you and some will think too much of you. Some will put you on a pedestal and some will watch, waiting for you to fall off it.

Live for an audience of one. Live according to what the Father thinks about you. Find your security and identity in Him.

If all is going well – the Father loves you.

If everything falls apart – the Father loves you.

In every storm, every shipwreck and every snake attack, that is the one constant – the Father loves you.

I came across a piece of writing about someone who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out:

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.”
An objective person came along and said, “Well, it’s logical that someone would fall down there.”
A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”
A mathematician calculated how the individual fell into the pit.
A news reporter wanted an exclusive story on the person in the pit.
A fundamentalist said, “You deserve your pit.”
A Calvinist said, “If you’d been saved, you’d never fallen in that pit.”
An Armenian said, “You were saved and still fell in that pit.”
A charismatic said, “Just confess that you’re not in that pit.”
A realist came along and said; “Now that’s a pit.”
A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit.
An Tax Revenue worker asked if he was paying taxes on this pit.
The planning inspector asked if he had a permit to dig the pit.
A self–pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”
A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.”
Jesus, seeing the man, reached down and took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

To conclude this series, here's an old hymn you might want to reflect on today:

He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho’ disappointments come and hope burns dim,
He never fails.

Tho’ trials surge like stormy seas around,
Tho’ testings fierce like ambushed foes abound,
Yet this my soul, with millions more has found,
He never fails; He never fails.

He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho’ angry skies with thunder-clouds grow grim,
He never fails.

Tho’ icy blasts life’s fairest flow’rs lay low,
Tho’ earthly springs of joy all cease to flow,
Yet still ‘tis true, with millions more I know,
He never fails; He never fails.

He never fails the soul that trusts in Him;
Tho’ sorrow’s cup should overflow the brim,
He never fails.

Tho’ oft the pilgrim way seems rough and long,
I yet shall stand amid yon white-robed throng,
And there I’ll sing, with millions more, this song—
He never fails; He never fails.