2022_11_09 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Acts 28
If you haven’t read it yet, please catch Kim Feld’s post on Acts 28 – it reminds us that the history in Acts is really about the work of God’s Holy Spirit as the church grew following Jesus’ resurrection. There are important people involved, but the Spirit is the common factor in the movement.
Something that stands out to me is the matter-of-fact way miraculous things occur without a lot of hype. In our current climate, there is so much over-the-top sensationalism and claims of fake news, conspiracies, and scandalized reports. It is really refreshing to read about what God does in a manner that gives the reader information without it feeling like indoctrination. Here in chapter 28, we see Paul and the ship’s crew on the island of Malta, following the wreck of their ship. While helping to make a fire, Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake. The superstitious onlookers assumed Paul was a murderer (there were several prisoners onboard the ship): “The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.” (Vs 6). Paul doesn’t make a big deal about this or try to milk his sudden fame. He just goes along with the work God has given him.
There are a couple of things to take note of here: (1) Paul did get bit by the snake. Those of us who follow Jesus are not promised protection from all harm. What we are promised is that God will take care of us, and nothing will stand in the way of us being able to fulfill the work He has for us. God’s plan was for Paul to make it to Rome and be a powerful witness for Jesus, and he did. (2) Paul not getting sick and dying from the snake bite provided a public opportunity for him to honor God. Rather than using it as a platform to make himself popular and powerful, Paul humbly used the opportunity to showcase God and serve others.
Like Kim said in her post, I would love to have more of the stories, but I love the ones we have and am challenged and inspired by them!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor