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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Acts 28:11f. After all we have we have been reading and studying over these past weeks, these verses might at first sight appear to be rather ordinary. They may even sound 'low key'. Jesus Christ had said - "Paul as you have witnessed for me in Jerusalem, so you will witness for me in Rome." And now, almost three years later, Paul arrives in Rome, which is, for him, a long way from Jerusalem.
God was not in a hurry, and Paul had a lot to do along the way, and many people to speak with and minister.
Behind this move of God in taking His man to Rome, there were many attacks of the enemy of God. We have read of efforts to delay his transportation to Rome. He had been left to languish in that prison in Caesarea. He was confronted with a violent tempest. Worldly minded people whose only interest was profit intervened in the plans and designs of our Creator God. Soldiers were on the point of taking their sword to silence Paul once and for all. Then that viper attempted to finish him off!
None of that succeeded.
We read of him, on Malta, gathering sticks and healing the sick. Wherever there was a need, no matter what it was, you could find Paul willing to be used and willing to be useful.
There can be delays, attacks, rejection of wise advice, direct interventions of the enemy and enemies of God, but still God gets His man to where He wants him to be.
Take these vital lessons for this coming week. The world can throw a lot at us at times, and the temptation can be to give in or give up or compromise. Paul came through all of this victoriously and triumphantly. It took time and patience was essential. When God chooses us and calls us He is seldom in a hurry.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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