Acts; Collateral Blessing

Oct. 30

Read : Acts 27:13-28:10

Acts;

Collateral Blessing.

“Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” (v.27:21,22)

The presence of God’s people brings blessing and hope to those around them… even those who are far from God. There is a certain favor and provision to be found in the midst of God’s people. We see this truth played out in the story of Paul’s journey to Rome. There were 276 people on the boat with Paul. (cf. v.27:37) This included soldiers, guards, centurions, and fellow prisoners like Paul. The weather was chaotic and working against the ship. (cf. 27:1-15) The watery-deep and ocean had always been a place that represented evil and chaos. It is interesting that these forces were working against Paul making his way to Rome. I am not sure who is to “blame” for the weather - but what we do know is that God wanted Paul to get to Rome. (cf. v.27:24) The circumstances were so bad that these season sailors had begun to throw the contents of the boat overboard. Everyone was sure they were going to die. It was a dire situation. It is in this moment that Paul speaks the words referenced above. Look at what an angel told Paul:

“For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (v. 27:23-25)

You see, just Paul's presence with them meant that they were spared. They received the blessing of being rescued from the stormy sea by virtue of the fact that they were on the same boat as Paul. This wasn't necessarily because they were God-fearing, or that they had faith… It was merely by virtue of the fact that they were with Paul and God was preserving Paul for a greater purpose. Once they were shipwrecked and had swam to the shore of Malta, there was another threat to Paul’s life. A viper or serpent latched on to Paul and was hanging from his hand. Imagine how much venom a snake can inject when it is latched to your hand! The people of the island think that Paul is a murderer and that this is “judgement”, but we know this is not the case. (v. 28:4)  Paul simply shakes the serpent off into the fire… and survives.The people go from thinking he is a murderer to thinking he is a god! (v. 28:6) No doubt this shaped the island leader’s willingness to entertain Paul and treat the people with kindness. Another blessing for those around Paul! Once at the chief’s home, Paul heals the chief’s father. (v.28:8) After this, “the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.” (v. 28:6) Again, BLESSINGS. It is so wild to read this really… healings seem so connected to faith in Jesus throughout the gospel accounts - yet we do not necessarily see a “faith” response in these people. Nevertheless, the Lord heals them through Paul. When it is time to go, the island people give them ALL the supplies the need to finding there (long) trip. Paul’s work on the island was a “win” for everyone on the ship. God worked tremendously through the adversity of the situation and through is servant Paul.

I believe that a marker of the genuine people of God is that they truly are a blessing to those around them. God has a plan he is working out, and as he works in his people those around them will also reap the benefits. This is the goodness of God… it is a goodness that shows up in the midst of a storm… or a shipwreck! It is a goodness that preserves you after being bit moreso than stopping the snake before it strikes. It is a goodness that trickles down through you to those around you. The people on that ship were spared by God because of Paul. We have heard of the term “collateral damage”… but what about “collateral blessing”!? We don’t get any concrete scriptures saying whether or not any of these soldiers or fellow prisoners decide to follow Jesus. I can’t help but think that there had to be some… but that is speculation. What we do know for sure is that they were indeed blessed and preserved by God.

May we - as the people of God - be a blessing to those around us through God working out his plan in us. The Lord leaves goodness in his wake! May we be the sort of people that bring “collateral blessing” to those around us. May we be hungry top gather with one another because being around others that God is working his plan out in always means good things for those in that persons orbit. This is not prosperity gospel, but rather a picture that we see worked out in Paul. This is also what we see in Jesus… those who  hung around with Jesus and were near to him experienced powerful moments of worship, goodness, healing, laughter, food, and great blessings… while enduring opposition and hardship… a lot like Paul’s boat trip to Rome! Love you guys. - JDP