Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We move into Acts 28. The exciting sea story is over - that dramatic breath-taking event has come to an end as everyone is washed up on the shores of Malta. The ship - the cargo - the precious grain - have all gone - but every life is preserved just as God had indicated through His servant Paul, during a time of prayer and fasting.
So many lessons - about men - and how men are closed to God - and closed to what God is saying - even when their very lives are in danger. Lessons about God - how He speaks and intervenes and reveals - reassures and guides - promises, and produces the fruit with confirming signs.
We read too of what servants of the Lord Jesus Christ may be called upon to endure and suffer and experience. And, even when hearing from Jesus, there is rejection. That is a hard lesson. Being overlooked and ignored is not easy either to cope with and face and handle, but these can all be part of what we confront us in our walk with God.
We saw how Paul was so in command of the situation - in the midst of all the dangers, from the weather, and from men. The influence Paul has is inestimably enormous, although I'm sure it didn't look like it at the time. It is usually unwise to evaluate what God is actually doing when you are right in the middle of something.
276 wet, cold, bedraggled, soaked, shipwrecked souls finally reach the shores of Malta. At first they expect to be met by a wild barbaric people - but no - they are met with kindness - unusual kindness. The people lit a fire for them. It was a chilly rainy mid October day. Look at Paul here. Think of what he has just come through - two years of dreadful unfair treatment and imprisonment - injustice - this exhausting storm - but as soon as he sees the need for more wood for the fire, off he goes to see what he can do. Never a complaint - not once. This is typical of Paul - he has this desire to help - "I'll give you a hand - let me help."
Here is the mighty missionary - the powerful preacher - the man who had been used Jesus Christ the King to bring many to the Saviour - and here he is serving working - gathering firewood.
Paul didn't just sit back and say - "Now I got you safely ashore, you go and collect the fuel." No - that wasn't the kind of man he was. Whenever he saw a real need, he would be serving - lovingly - just as Jesus Christ His Saviour and Lord would have served. This is how one of the leading soldiers in the army of Jesus Christ serves, and remember, Paul is also aware that he is facing death. He has nothing to gain by doing this in the way of receiving favours, or earning prisoner's privileges. He acts and behaves as a true soldier and disciple and servant of Jesus Christ.
As Paul returns with arms full of firewood - a viper - a snake - fastened around his hand. When the local people saw this their superstitions caused them to regard him as a murderer. He had escaped the sea, but, he won't escape now. Verse 4. There are times when we may have to shake off a viper, and get rid of a serpent.
Unconverted pagans can say some terrible things at times, in their ignorance. Remember that too, even when they show unusual kindness. It can be wise to pay no attention to such things people say. It is not easy, but it can be the best thing to do. Be careful regarding whose words influence you.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.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.