July 12
________________________________________
MIRACLES IN MALTA
A poem by ILMA
Once Paul and others were on shore, they discovered we were on the island of Malta
The people of the island were very kind to Paul and the others when they arrived
It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome them
As Paul gathered sticks to lay them on the fire, a poisonous snake came for the heat.
The snake bit him and the people saw it hanging from his hand; thought he deserved it
They were thinking that though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live
They thought he was one of the murderers who were being sailed to Rome
But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was he was totally unharmed.
The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead
They waited a while and saw that he wasn’t harmed, their minds changed
Near the shore where they landed was an estate belonging to Publius, an official
He welcomed them and treated them kindly for three days.
As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery
Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands, he healed him
Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed
As a people honored Paul and supplied them with everything on their trip.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. – Acts 28:3
Read: Acts 28:1-9
Again, in this chapter, we witness God’s Spirit dwelling in Paul as he approached the island of Malta. The peoples’ hospitality and warmth, was in itself a miracle. The snake biting Paul would have killed him. But God used this again so they will see his power through Paul.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What happens when we are faithful to God’s call to preach the Good News