Acts 28:16-31

Today's bonus devotion 

Acts 28:16-31

It would be easy to read the passage as nothing more than a historic narrative. Paul gets to Rome while under house arrest he speaks to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles and the story ends with Paul under house arrest awaiting trial. But there is more to it, there are undercurrents, and riptides, of cosmic fluxes swirling about this two-year story.

All Israel’s history could’ve been summed up in the hopeful phrase “Someone is coming”. From David to Moses to Abraham even back to Adam there was a promise that “Someone” would come. That was their hope. When Paul said, “I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel” he was not speaking of a vague wish for a better future. Rather the hope was the person of Jesus Christ. We see here a cosmic battle between God‘s plan for redeeming man and the death camp of Satan. The enemy has, is, and always will attempt to lock up the message. This is more than a legal proceeding between Paul and the Jews from Jeruslamen. The battle is cosmic in nature, Paul and The Jews are just the front men.

The enemy lacking the ability to refute the good news resorts to propaganda. In verse 22 the Jews say, “it (Christianity) is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” The word “spoken against” here is from two words, the first is “I say” and the second is “anti”. This is about being contrary, not discussing, learning, and listening, but just being antagonistic. Some people were passionately opposed to the gospel without reason and we’re not willing to even hear the message. Rather they just tried to shut it down.

The division is evident in Paul’s audience some believed, and some didn’t.  When a person, as an act of the will, rejects the gospel they can’t hear, they can’t see, they can’t understand the good news. That first step of unbelief is followed by another and then another. With each step the heart gets harder until nothing can reach them. The will can even close out the voice of God. (Versus 26-27) God honors our choice for or against him.

“Lord, help me to see that all life is about the cosmic battle.  Help me be in the front line of Your Kingdom’s advance. AMEN”

Acts 28:1–15

 Bonus Devotion Day 

(Two devotions today I ran out of days before devotions.  Expect the next devotion about 9:00 am)

Acts 28:1–15

As we read the record of Paul’s travels, it is a pendulum of good and then bad circumstances following in quick succession. He is sailing to Rome to preach the Gospel; the ship is in a storm; an angel promises safety; the ship is wrecked; everyone makes it to shore; it is cold and rainy; the locals build a fire; a snake bites Paul. It is a roller coaster of ups and downs. None of these events are specific to or the result of ministry, but it was the story in which Paul lived. We never get the idea that Paul asks, “Why me?” He doesn’t promote himself as spiritually superior because of the good things. He doesn’t grumble toward God because of the bad things. Life happens; it is the unexpected events that creep onto us day by day and through which our character shines out. God’s control of all things doesn’t mean God keeps us from every little circumstance of trouble. To ask why is to ask a question that may never be answered this side of Heaven, and when we get to Heaven we likely won’t care to hear the answer. Faithful, godly people on the roller coaster of life know that this is just part of life.

Rather than ask “why,” a better question may be “How can I serve in this moment?” As Paul and his team prepared to leave Malta, we saw that the natives took wonderful care of them. That would not have happened if Paul had acted like a spoiled, sulking princess. We see Paul helping with the firewood, we see Paul in ministry to the sick, and we see Paul in the role of a servant. There’s nothing more unbecoming of a Christian than acting as if some act of service or menial labor is beneath them. There is no specific mention of Paul teaching or preaching at Malta; we might assume that he did. If a Christian imagines that some work is beneath their dignity or position, then they are following neither Christ nor the example of real Christians. Perhaps we should pray that God would place us in such circumstances where we can do and learn the value of humble service.

“Lord, help me to serve with humility in great ways. AMEN”