reaching out to the locals

Good afternoon brothers and sisters,
As Paul predicted, everyone from the ship makes it to land safely and they even find a warm welcome from the islanders. Paul makes quite an impression first by surviving a snake attack and then through healing the sick. Wherever he goes, God opens doors to ministry for him. We have opportunities for ministry wherever we go too. Sometimes we have a chance to say a healing word to someone who’s hurting or the opportunity to do a simple kindness that will touch someone’s heart. Let’s keep our eyes open for those opportunities.

Our Revelation passage is the end of the Bible. Here we move from hearing what the end will be to hearing specific encouragement to stay faithful so we can be part of the redemption party of Jesus. “Blessed are those who have washed their robes,” means blessed are those who put their trust in Christ, especially those who suffer for their witness to Jesus. We hear those last words of the Spirit, “Come,” because the Spirit prayer with us the prayer of hope for Christ’s coming. For those early Christians facing persecution the hope of Christ’s arrival helped them hold on to the end. For us thinking about the end of the world may also bring feelings of fear because the present is all we know and it’s pretty comfortable for us. The truth is we can make the world better through prayer and ministry, but only God’s final arrival can make the world perfect. We join the Spirit and the worldwide church as we hope for Christ’s final arrival so God’s healing can be complete.

God bless,
Sam


Acts 28:1-10
28After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 3Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. 9After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.

* Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
12"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 14"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates."

16"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.