“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” (Acts 28:5 NIV)
If you’re in God’s will, snake bites don’t harm you. Paul was a man all in with God. From the time of his conversion until the time of his death, he never stopped sharing the gospel.
If Paul could take a picture of his current situation, you would question his loyalty to God. He’s just survived a shipwreck. He’s starving. He’s washed ashore on an island with a bunch of hungry sailors. And when he builds a fire, a snake jumps out and bites him. The snake doesn’t harm him. His life is in chaos from a worldly perspective, but he’s exactly where God wants him. In God’s will, Paul is safe. In His will, the devil’s attacks have no power.
In God’s will, the devil’s attacks have no power.
When we are in God’s will, we are safe. We understand God’s truth:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17 NIV)
The Spirit of Truth fills Paul. He accepted life’s hard truths.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
The current circumstances didn’t concern Paul. He knew Jesus overcame the world. He knew the truth.
We talked the other day about the beginning of Paul’s journey. God told Him, “Do not be afraid” (Acts 27:24 NIV). Now you know why God sent an Angel Text to Paul. God knew the road ahead. He knew the trials Paul would face. God wanted Paul to keep his focus on Him. An angel appearing with a message is hard to forget.
Paul didn’t have the availability of the Bible like we do. He didn’t schedule daily devotions. His life was a daily devotion. He didn’t have a pocket version of the New Testament, because it didn’t exist. In fact, Paul wrote the majority of the New Testament. His love letters to the churches are what we read today.
Paul knew, if the snake was going to kill him, it would kill him. If God wanted him in heaven, great. If He didn’t great:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 NIV)
Place your heart in God’s hands like Paul did. Stay focused by spending time with God daily. Let a life well lived be your devotion back to God. In His will you are safe.
Question of the Day:
What prompting from God are you not following?
Further Reading: 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:18 NIV, Acts 28 NIV, Psalm 9:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 19:1-3 NIV
