God is Our Deliverer

Once ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. The local people showed extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since it was raining and cold. As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper  came out  because of the heat and fastened itself to Paul's hand. When the local people saw it hanging from his hand, they assumed Paul was a murderer who had, even though he had survived the sea, finally met justice.

They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Acts 28:1-6

Suspicious people assume justice is delivered by the things that happen to them and those around them. Godly people take them in their stride and move on.

We cannot assume that because bad stuff happens to us or those in our world that we are wrong or out of order necessarily. Bad stuff happens to godly and ungodly alike but the Christian has a God he can turn to who will bring him through and use his circumstances for His glory.

Christians need their faith to be in God and not their own works or 'goodness'. Goodness in the believer comes from being connected to God not because we are good in ourselves. If we begin to believe we are good in ourselves and therefore expect a 'good' reward we slip back into law and self-righteousness.

Paul was able to place his faith in God and be delivered. God had a future destiny for Paul and Paul had confidence that his God would deliver him. This is where our confidence lies. Amen!

We are about to celebrate the coming of our Saviour, it is good to remember that we have a need for a saviour and that we can place our faith in Him and his ability to deliver us. Amen!