snake bit

I was reading along with Verve's reading plan in Acts 28 today, which is the last chapter in Acts. The apostle Paul was being transported to Rome for trial when the ship they were traveling on ran aground during a storm. They were ultimately shipwrecked on the island of Malta, where the people on the island took good care of them. Early on, Paul went and gathered wood for the fire and when he got back, he put some on the fire and suddenly a poisonous snake came out of the wood and latched onto his hand. It says he shook it off. The people of the island thought for sure, being a prisoner narrowly escaping death in the ship wreck, that fate had it's way and he was doomed to death. After watching for a while and seeing he didn't even become ill, they changed their minds and thought he was a god. With this newly found reverence, he was able to tell them about Jesus and heal their sick and when the next ship came along, the locals sent them off with everything they needed.

When bad things happen to us, it's often blamed on spiritual warfare or chalked up to God's judgment. But, what if we just shook it off and kept on believing in God's vision? Then when those observing us were wondering what the heck just happened, we simply told them about Jesus and healed their sicknesses. That would be awesome!

As we prepare to move to Miami to start a church for those furthest from Jesus, please pray that we can shake off the snakes and stay focused on the vision.