Day 160: Giving, Giving and Giving

Acts 28:7-10 :

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came, and were cured. They also honored us with many honors, and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed.

Dr. David Hocking mentioned that if a person really has the “gift of healing,” why don’t they clear out the hospital? That’s a good question because here we see that Paul did something much like this in “the neighborhood of that place.”

When he found out that their host’s father was sick, he healed him and then “the rest also who had diseases on the island came, and were cured.” Notice that Publius gave Paul hospitality, then Paul gave Publius his father, then they all gave “many Honors” and “they put on board the things that” they needed. One gift lead to another gift and I doubt we have the end of it recorded here.

That’s how God’s grace works with us as Christians. We can give, and give, and give, and give to each other. What a blessing it is to be a Christian! God gives us things to give to others and on it goes. It appear that the Maltans learned to understand more about the grace of God as Paul and Luke stayed there with them.