The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were shipwrecked and swam to “the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “shook off the beast into the fire” where we read:
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
The verse begins, “And he shook off the beast into the fire, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he shook off the beast” which means “and he, Paul, jostled and brushed off the poisonous snake” “into the fire” or “into the burning fire”. Luke shared how “Paul” threw the snake back into the fire that was burning.
The verse goes on to say, “... and felt no harm.” Luke continued with the words, “and felt” which means “and was affected with and sensed” “no harm” or “not one mode of bad, trouble or injury”. Luke shared how “Paul” did not experience any trouble or bad from the poisonous serpent.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” simply “shook” the poisonous snake back into the burning fire, and he experienced no harmful effects from it. This was another preserving miracle of God for His servant “Paul”, and because “Paul” was destined by God to bear witness of Him in “Rome”, not even a poisonous snake attaching it to his hand would stop him. God wants His gospel to be spread throughout the world, and anyone who surrenders their life to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. This message is for everyone, and those who humble themselves, come to Jesus, repent of their sins and believe and trust in Him will live forever with God and be preserved according to the will of Him for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how the Barbarians, “looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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