Acts 28:1-10 | It's Always New to SomeoneNäide

Compassion: A New Approach

Paul was brought to Publius, the chief official on the island. Luke writes that Publius showed them generous hospitality for three days. During that time, Paul learns that Publius’s father was sick, suffering from a fever and dysentery.

If you’ve never had dysentery, good. It has similar symptoms to food poisoning, but unlike food poisoning, causes inflammation that leads to bleeding from your bowels. It isn’t pretty. It isn’t pleasant. It causes great suffering. It can be fatal. Luke doesn’t tell us whether Publius requested that Paul come see his father, if the Spirit led Paul to him, or if he just happened to see him after being on the estate for three days, but when Paul placed his hands on Publius’s father and prayed for him, he was healed.

“Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him” (Acts 28:8, NIV).

Luke tells us that Publius’s father was healed after Paul acted. It wasn’t Paul who healed him, but God working through Paul who did. In the same way, we can be healed from the guilt that sickens our bodies and leaves us spiritually bedridden when we repent, confess, and ask God for forgiveness. And bring that healing to others. Paul was a prisoner bound for Rome, but that didn’t stop him from ministering to his captors. It’s yet another act of compassion.

This new approach, as we’ll see in tomorrow’s devotion, resulted in the spread of the gospel to the people on the island of Malta.

Prayer

How has sin kept you bedridden? Or on the sidelines? You can hold onto that sin and allow it to hold you hostage, or you can confess it to God and receive his forgiveness. Pray for God to place his hands on you and heal that sin that’s keeping you incapacitated, isolated, and alone.