March 18, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Practical Kindnesses

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Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, You are the Master of things great and small. I’m grateful Your grace is sufficient for all things.

Read ACTS 28:1-16

[1] Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. [2] The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. [3] Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. [4] When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” [5] But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. [6] The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. [7] There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. [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. [11] After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island-it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. [12] We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. [13] From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. [14] There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. [15] The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. [16] When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Publius showed hospitality and kindness to Paul and his fellow travelers, and his people followed his lead. I am sure that many visitors to our churches would love to find a similar kindness and hospitality.

Today’s reading is filled with practical kindnesses. The islanders were unusually kind in preparing a welcoming fire for the cold, soaking survivors. Paul gathered firewood to keep the flames alight. Publius, the chief official, showed generous hospitality for three days. Paul offered prayer and healing to Publius’s father, who was suffering the ravages of fever and dysentery (Malta fever could last for months or years). Paul (and probably Luke, the physician) healed or gave medical attention to those who were ill. Islanders provided Paul’s party with necessary provisions as they departed. Believers in Puteoli provided hospitality for a week. Some Roman believers traveled 43 miles to the Forum of Appius, and others walked 33 miles to the Three Taverns (stopping places on the five-day walk to Rome from Puteoli) to welcome and encourage Paul. The Roman authorities allowed Paul to live out of prison, in accommodation with a guard.

Good deeds are not the prerogative of Christians alone. Many outside the faith put us to shame by their kind, generous actions. Jesus demonstrated God’s love for humanity, not just by dying for our sins and proclaiming Good News, but by practical mercy to those in need of food, healing, deliverance or safety in storms.

It is often easier for us to do good to those who belong to the family of believers (and they are to be our priority) but Paul encourages us, as we have opportunity, to do good to all people (Gal. 6:10). That includes strangers and foreigners, the hungry, sick, imprisoned, elderly, disabled, mentally ill, single parents and children–wherever there is opportunity. Who is our neighbor (Luke 10:29-37)? Or are we too busy in our nice safe enclaves which protect us and our families to extend Jesus’ mercy to others? Many people in our world need to see God’s mercy in action by our practical kindness.

Apply

Find at least one situation today where you will show some practical kindness–no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Closing prayer

Gracious Lord, I ask for a new sensitivity towards the people I meet. May kindness and hospitality flow through me to them.

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