Acts 28:6 – 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.
Shipwrecked, Paul and his companions find themselves on the island of Malta. The islanders are kind and welcoming. They built a fire to warm them from the rain and cold. As Paul gathers wood for the fire, a viper coils itself on his hand.
The watching islanders were scared. They assumed he was a murderer who had escaped punishment at sea and was going to be punished now. They wait, expecting Paul to be bitten and fall dead. But when Paul just shakes the snake off his hand and nothing unusual happens to him, the people are quick to decide his must be a god.
Paul who has been falsely accused, flogged and imprisoned for no fault of his, is now suddenly considered a god? Often as Christians, we may face similar situations. Times when we suffer much pain and hardship, for no fault of ours. And others times, when we might receive much praise, deserved or not. Through it all, it is important to retain the right perspective.
When hardships come, we need to remember that nothing comes to us without the knowledge of our loving heavenly Father. At other times, when we receive praise and appreciation, to know that all that we are and all that we have, are His.
Pride is a very easy sin to fall into. We need to seek God’s grace to never forget, that all that we are is only because of Him.
Lord keep me from the sin of pride.
0 Comments