This post is Day 26 in a series of studies about “Followers of Jesus”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Followers of Jesus – Day 26

Often we hear of good consequences from what we see as bad things. I can tell of several times in my life when I have been going through a difficult time and have prayed Lord teach me quickly whatever I need to be learning from this, and let us move on.

Acts 28:8

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.

The Thought

The ship Paul had been travelling on was wrecked in a storm and he found himself in Malta. Very quickly the islanders had the same reaction as the people in Lystra that we read about yesterday. They thought he was a god (Acts 28:6)! That was because the snake that fastened itself to his hand (verse 3) didn’t harm him. Paul just shook it off into the fire. He didn’t panic or worry!

On this island of Malta, Paul and his companions were invited to stay at the house of the chief officer of the island. The officer’s father was seriously ill, but was healed by Paul’s prayers and laying on of hands. That started a healing campaign and all the sick people on the island were brought for prayer and went away healed.

Do you think the reason for the shipwreck was so that the people on Malta heard about Jesus and could witness what could be done by those who believed in Him?

Often we hear of good consequences from what we see as bad things. I can tell of several times in my life when I have been going through a difficult time and have prayed “Lord teach me quickly whatever I need to be learning from this, and let’s move on.” It is never easy to go through pain or hardship. But we must remember that God sees the bigger picture and has lessons to teach us as well as solutions.

Action

Today pray for yourself or someone else you know who is going through hardship at the moment.

Pray for those suffering from isolation and loneliness, because of covid rules that still apply in much of the world.

Pray for those involved in any way in the war between Russia and Ukraine.