| Photo by Rozam Ali on Unsplash
In Acts 27, we see the ship, the storm, and the sandbar. So everyone on the ship swims to the shore.
In Acts 28, the people on the island show them kindness. They built a fire and welcomed them. Paul was collecting wood for the fire, and a snake fastened onto Paul’s hand. In verse 4; “When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer…”.
How many people feel that when things go wrong in our lives, it is because we must have sinned, or lack faith, or are out of God’s will? But sometimes things happen in life that are out of our control.
Acts 28:5-6; “BUT Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”
• Paul teaches us to shake off everything that the enemy throws at us! Do not let the sin, attacks, and testing hang on us. Shake it off, and let it go! How many of us are walking around with the snakes hanging from us! Start shaking those things that are not of God off of us!
• Paul teaches us to be a victor and not a victim! Stop living like a victim to the enemy, life, and people, and start walking like a victor in Christ today!
Lord, help me to shake off everything that the enemy will try to destroy me, and live as a victor today because of Jesus!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. The daily devotion appears in this publication.
