Acts 28:3 (NLT)
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.
No snake charmer stories! Just in case you are thinking “I know where he is about to go with this one”, it is actually quite the opposite. While reading this passage, the snake initially stood out. Like most people, I don’t really care for them. However, this time while reading this verse I saw something in the midst of the snake bite I had always previously overlooked. There was an act of service. Paul was serving others that were with him on the recent shipwreck by gathering wood for the fire. The previous verse says it was raining and cold. I can almost imagine what it would have been like: Shivering on the beach and soaking wet after just being washed ashore. It was a cold and dreary day, and everyone was completely exhausted after eating something for the first time in 14 days. The part that is hard for me to imagine, is enduring all of this while serving others, and doing so knowing I am on my way to being locked up and put to death.
It’s so easy to let the small things of life rob us of the joy of serving others; a bad day, something someone said, or just simply being tired. There are days I only wish I could say that it was a snake bite that kept me from serving. I think most of us would likely say that is definitely a legitimate reason. But to Paul, not even a viper bite could keep him from serving others.
Acts 28:4 (NLT)
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.”
The people didn’t understand. They assumed and were convinced that what happened to him was a result of a wrong doing or perhaps a sin he had committed. I love what Paul does next!
Acts 28:5 (NLT)
But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
Paul shook it off! This verse really spoke to me because I believe it is about more than just a “snake”. We all have confrontations with “snakes”. Perhaps not a literal snake, but anything that threatens to harm or kill our walk with Christ or serving others as He has called us to do could be considered a “snake”. Paul was determined to let nothing stop or hinder what God had called him to do. The very thing that stood in the way of reaching others became the opportunity to reach others.
Acts 28:6 (NLT)
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.
Don’t you know Paul must have been smiling inside as he watched everyone around him stand in terror, waiting for him to fall over dead. What an awesome feeling to know we serve a God of miracles! I have to imagine that Paul’s anticipation must have been out of this world as the hours rolled by and he patiently waited on the people’s eyes to be opened. They “waited a long time” so he could tell them he is not a god and then proclaim the good news of the One who is God!
Father,
Thank You for the opportunity to serve others as You so graciously served us. Thank You for being a God of miracles! Lord, help us to be steadfast, to not grow weary, and stay focused on the life You have called us to live. Father, empower us to reach others, proclaim Your goodness, and tell others of who You are. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen!
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.
No snake charmer stories! Just in case you are thinking “I know where he is about to go with this one”, it is actually quite the opposite. While reading this passage, the snake initially stood out. Like most people, I don’t really care for them. However, this time while reading this verse I saw something in the midst of the snake bite I had always previously overlooked. There was an act of service. Paul was serving others that were with him on the recent shipwreck by gathering wood for the fire. The previous verse says it was raining and cold. I can almost imagine what it would have been like: Shivering on the beach and soaking wet after just being washed ashore. It was a cold and dreary day, and everyone was completely exhausted after eating something for the first time in 14 days. The part that is hard for me to imagine, is enduring all of this while serving others, and doing so knowing I am on my way to being locked up and put to death.
It’s so easy to let the small things of life rob us of the joy of serving others; a bad day, something someone said, or just simply being tired. There are days I only wish I could say that it was a snake bite that kept me from serving. I think most of us would likely say that is definitely a legitimate reason. But to Paul, not even a viper bite could keep him from serving others.
Acts 28:4 (NLT)
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.”
The people didn’t understand. They assumed and were convinced that what happened to him was a result of a wrong doing or perhaps a sin he had committed. I love what Paul does next!
Acts 28:5 (NLT)
But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
Paul shook it off! This verse really spoke to me because I believe it is about more than just a “snake”. We all have confrontations with “snakes”. Perhaps not a literal snake, but anything that threatens to harm or kill our walk with Christ or serving others as He has called us to do could be considered a “snake”. Paul was determined to let nothing stop or hinder what God had called him to do. The very thing that stood in the way of reaching others became the opportunity to reach others.
Acts 28:6 (NLT)
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.
Don’t you know Paul must have been smiling inside as he watched everyone around him stand in terror, waiting for him to fall over dead. What an awesome feeling to know we serve a God of miracles! I have to imagine that Paul’s anticipation must have been out of this world as the hours rolled by and he patiently waited on the people’s eyes to be opened. They “waited a long time” so he could tell them he is not a god and then proclaim the good news of the One who is God!
Father,
Thank You for the opportunity to serve others as You so graciously served us. Thank You for being a God of miracles! Lord, help us to be steadfast, to not grow weary, and stay focused on the life You have called us to live. Father, empower us to reach others, proclaim Your goodness, and tell others of who You are. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen!