JULY 29, 2016

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." ― WINSTON CHURCHILL

PSALM 56-58

David praises God after he is seized by Philistines

10In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise—

11in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can man do to me?

12I am under vows to you, my God;

I will present my thank offerings to you.

13For you have delivered me from death

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life. (56:10-13)

ACTS 28:1-15

Paul builds a fire, shakes off a viper, and heals the sick...

1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul 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. 4When 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.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The 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.

7There 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. 8His 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. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

JOURNAL 

Talk about embracing the moment. To read this sounds like some kind of superhero...not a man who has been rejected by his own people who are seeking a death sentence for him. Here he is performing miracle after miracle all while still being a prisoner of Rome. The only way a man does this is to be completely infused with the power and spirit of God all while living completely and totally in the moment. Paul is not waxing and waning about his release, he is not self-absorbed in his fate. He is acting in power and love right where he is.

I confess that often I struggle with the "when I get to this point...then I'll be obedient, then I'll be generous, then I'll be loving, then I'll be courageous." Here in these verses Paul's actions dismantle this thinking. I am to act now...in this moment because this moment is as good as it gets.  What that means to me is not that things won't change...they will...that is guaranteed. However if I can't see the good in this moment of time, then I will never see the good in any moment of time. This moment is as good as it gets. So I am to embrace it, be grateful for it, enjoy it, indulge in God's love and he will make it great.

 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - MATTHEW 6:31-34