Summer At Sea: Week 13 Day 4
ACTS 28:1-10
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 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. 4 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, “Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 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.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
I occasionally watch the TV show Survivor, which is a “reality” game that is played on a far-away island in which the players, or “cast-aways,” have to figure out a plan to “survive” the conditions on the island for several weeks. The participant who is the big winner in the end receives a huge cash award as the prize. The cast of regular folks walk a fine line between working with the others to mutually benefit each other and scheming their own plan with specific game choices that set them up to be the ultimate survivor.
The Apostle Paul and his shipmates had just survived a terrifying weeks-long storm in which their ship literally broke apart, and they barely made it safely to Malta, an island in the Mediterranean Sea; that’s another level of survival! Their future welfare, however, and the need to keep living were far from over. Their island survival story is packed full of interesting people and events; it was a true survivor account that was beyond any highly produced TV show. Once again, God completely orchestrated His game plan to provide Paul and the others with exactly what each one needed, and He also enabled them to mutually help each other.
How often do you live your life just to help yourself move forward and accomplish your own goals? Or do you intentionally consider other people’s needs? Do you show others “unusual kindness,” or entertain them “hospitably?” Do you pray with others, place your hands on them and heal them, honor them “in many ways,” or furnish them with supplies they need, among other things? Even one small act of kindness can completely change someone’s life and possibly lead them to a saving faith in God.
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).
”Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).