His Plan

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

HIS PLAN

Acts 28:7-10

7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

NIV

The lost art of hospitality is shown to us here. Three days of being entertained. What kind of entertainment was this? Were there musicians, dancers, singers, magicians along with a big feast? We just do not know anything about how the local people of this island entertained guests, but what we do know is their hospitality was such that it desired mention in the Bible. That could be our life lesson but then it is unlikely we would have the opportunity to display that kind of hospitality, three whole days. We are lucky if our guests stay for a couple of hours as many of us need to get to our jobs in the morning. Yet when our out of town family or friends arrive, we just might be able to entertain them for three or more days and do it with grace. But we have another truth here we could use as a life lesson in that when Paul heard about his hosts father being sick, he went to him, prayed and laid hands on him and healed him. Page two of that story is that now all those on the island who were sick came to this Paul, who now for sure must have thought him a god, yet they were all cured. God had a plan. Even this ship wreck, this horrible experience brought them to this place, where God could show himself to these people through his servant Paul. We are not told what Paul said during all this time, but we can be certain he was not silent. We can be certain he did not allow any of them to think it was him, that he was a god who healed them. We can be certain Paul explained to them about the Almighty God, the creator of heavens and earth, and about his one and only Son, Jesus Christ and all that happened and that he is the only source of salvation, of eternal life. This is just another example of having complete confidence in God. It is also another example of God directing our footsteps. These people may never have heard the gospel unless the storm had driven the ship to their shore. This could be one of those times we could say that God moves in strange ways, or that his ways are not our ways. It is certain all on that ship would have rather sailed on smoothly their desired port, but God would have them stop off at this island so he could use Paul to heal all those people and reveal himself to them. This is our lesson that we need to see that God has a plan and we need to be ready, willing and able to do what he asks of us. Sometimes life brings challenges that change the course of events in our lives. Challenges that are outside our control and we need to see the purpose, the master plan of God for our lives. Although God promised Paul he would get to Rome there was a slight detour on this island so God could do his work. God may not move exactly that same way in our lives, but he could and we need to see those experiences in light of his plan. We have a promise that we will reach heaven, but there may be a few detours on the way, but all of them are to accomplish his plan, not ours. It is about his plan.