Malta
Scripture: Acts 28:1-10
1 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 2 The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. 3 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6 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. 7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 8 As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. 9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. (Acts 28:1-10 NLT)
276 people were on the ship and 276 people survived the storm and the shipwreck! They soon discovered they were on the island of Malta. It’s a real place. You can find it on a map! And these were real people! And don’t forget that Luke, the author of Acts, was right there experiencing it along with Paul and the others. Here are some devotional thoughts for us from the three months on Malta!
- Serve Right Where You Are (Vs. 3): Paul was an apostle, a scholar, and a leader, yet he didn’t sit back expecting others to care for him after a traumatic shipwreck. He picked up sticks to build a fire. God uses moments when we lower ourselves to serve in practical, mundane ways to open doors for greater spiritual impact.
- Shake off the “Viper” of Misunderstanding (Vs 4-5): When the viper bit Paul, the onlookers jumped to an instant, harsh judgment. Moments later, when he didn’t fall dead, they swung to the opposite extreme and claimed he was a god. Human opinion is notoriously fickle. Paul didn’t waste time arguing, defending himself, or fretting over their labels; he simply shook off the snake and kept moving forward.
- Your Detour Is Someone Else’s Destination (Vs 8-9): Malta wasn’t on Paul’s original itinerary—Rome was. Yet God used a terrifying shipwreck to bring physical and spiritual healing to an entire island. The interruptions and delayed plans in our lives often hold purpose for people who need what God has given us to share.
- The Blessing of Reciprocal Kindness (Vs 10): The islanders initially showed “extraordinary kindness” by building a fire for wet, freezing strangers. Paul responded by ministering to their sick. When it was time to leave, God provided for every single need of the journey through the very people Paul served. Generosity creates a cycle of grace and graciousness.
Prayer:
Father, In the roller-coaster of storms and shipwrecks, it’s so easy to get caught up in a survival mentality and forget that even after we’re safe from storm and shipwreck, there’s still practical work to be done. Thanks for the example of Paul’s willingness to serve, and thanks for the reminder not to get defensive when we’re misjudged or misunderstood. May our lives become cycles of grace and graciousness. For your Kingdom’s sake, Amen.