Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Saturday, April 10, 2021

Theme: SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS, KEY TO HEALTHY LIVING

Text: “And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” – Acts 28:2.

Comment: While Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner,  their ship ran into rough winds and they suffered shipwreck.  By the grace of God no life was lost.  They were all able to get ashore to Melita, an island in the Mediterranean, between Sicily and Africa, now called Malta. The inhabitants were very sympathetic to them and received them with great hospitality.  Although the devil brought a viper to bite him, while he was warming himself in the fire, it did him no harm and this compelled the people to change their mind, saying that he was a god. It was from there that Paul healed the father of Publius, the governor of the island, who was sick of a fever.  He healed several others also, who honoured him with much gifts. Doing good is a state of the mind, not a function of whether one is rich. The woman who poured expensive ointment on Christ was not rich but she felt happy and at peace with God for what she did and for which she was blessed by Christ.  (Matthew 26:6-12. See also 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2)  The Great Woman of Shunem was happy providing accommodation for Elijah though she did not have a child and for that act she received a priceless gift. (2 Kings 4:8) The Bible says: “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares…” – Hebrews 13:1-3. See also  Philippians 2:3,4.