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

Predictability: A New Ending

Word on Paul’s miraculous healing of Publius’s father spread throughout the island. Everyone who was sick came to see Paul, and he healed them. Paul was still a prisoner, but instead of sulking or simply looking out for himself, he chose to model Jesus.

Matthew writes: “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over… and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:22-24, NIV).

Paul went from suspected murderer to honored healer in the span of a few days by being like Jesus. Paul was a prisoner, but didn’t act like one. He chose to love his neighbor, and that impacted the people of Malta.

Shipwrecks and vipers didn’t detour Paul from his mission of spreading the gospel. The island of Malta wasn’t in Paul’s plan, but it was in God’s plan, and it resulted in a new ending for the people of Malta. God is like that. A predictable faithfulness bringing about unpredictable results in the strangest of ways. A God of new endings.

Prayer

Has following Jesus become predictable for you? Being a disciple leads to unpredictable situations. It can be frightening or cause uneasiness, but there are people who need a new ending. Pray that God gives you opportunities to step out of predictability and to share the gospel with those who need to hear it.

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