Revealing God

Acts 28:7-10 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.
 
BE alert! Even when you’re not on a specific mission, your risen Savior may want you to show his tender mercy to someone.
   That’s what happened on Malta. Paul and his friends first gained favor when God kept Paul safe from a viper’s bite. In response Publius, the island’s chief official, invited the Christians into his home. God then granted favor to Publius’ father when Paul placed his hands on him and healed him. The Spirit then distributed God’s grace to heal all of the sick on the island!
   God made himself known. He revealed his glory to a group of people who did not know him. Might they have learned a new song, perhaps Psalms 103:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD O my soul, and forget not all his benefits 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Of course, this is only conjecture, but our point is to encourage you to notice the ways God reveals his glory to you and through you. Praise him for his tender mercies.
   In Acts each time the Spirit uses his messengers to heal the sick, he also saves people into eternal life. Luke has written of people’s responses to the healings and preaching. He has twice numbered those saved (Acts 2:4, 4:4). At other points Luke referred to people’s salvation with such language as more and more believed (Acts 5:14), many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:42) and many of the Jews believed (Acts 17:12). But we have no report here. Certainly Paul preached the gospel. Paul always preached it. We can trust the Spirit would have moved some people to confess Jesus as Savior.
    Still, not all is well for Paul. After Paul’s wisdom saved the ship and all lives on board and after his gracious healing ministry, Paul remains Rome’s prisoner. He is obligated to continue the journey under Roman guard. Luke and Paul’s friends faithfully continue with him. He has much work to do for Jesus, while he is confined under Roman guard. Even so, Paul will be confident in the Lord’s care. Psalms 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.