Storms and Snakes!

Listen to this blog.

When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.

The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.

After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand.

When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul's hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn't drown in the sea, but the goddess of justice will kill him anyway.”  Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn't harmed.

The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said, “This man is a god.”

Acts 28:1-6

Paul was a prisoner, but he was on his way to Rome to preach the Gospel there. A storm at sea tried to derail God's purpose for Paul and then a snake. The storm could not take Paul's life and neither could the snake because God was protecting Paul so that His purpose for Paul's life would be accomplished.

When the life of a man of God is "cut short" by death, never wonder how much more he could have done if only he had not died. The history of Christian martyrs is filled with the stories of men and woman who accomplished more in death than they ever had in life.

Jesus greatest work was completed on the day He died. Without the death of Jesus on the Cross we would have no hope of an eternity with Him.

Our job is not to be careful to avoid the storms and snakes at all costs. We must rather be sure that we are on the way to the next appointment God has for us in our walk with Him. If we are, nothing will stop us until God determines that we have finished the course.

"Lord help me to focus on the plan You have for me today. I will leave with You the job of protecting me from the storms and snakes! Thank You Jesus. Amen!"