Malta (Part 2)

Acts 28:7-10

“7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.”

Paul healed the father of the chief Roman representative on the island.  The word of this spread and the rest of the people who were sick went to Paul and were healed.  

Paul, who suffered from an ailment that he called a “ thorn in his flesh”, who could not persuade God to rid him of this ailment, healed all those who came to him through the power of God.

God had His reasons for not healing Paul and for allowing all those on Malta who were diseased to be healed by Paul.  Somehow this served His good purpose.  

Sometimes it seems that our prayers are unanswered while the prayers of others are answered.  But this is no reason to be discouraged or to give up or to stop praying.

In those times remember Paul, who was a prisoner because of unjust and unfounded charges, who suffered from a “thorn in his flesh” that God would not remove,  who was on his way to Rome where the Holy Spirit revealed he would be imprisoned and would suffer.  

This same Paul prayed for and healed an entire island of people… in the name of  the just and loving God that he knew, and spoke about, and served all over the known world; the God that transformed him spiritually and gave him the gift of salvation.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)