It’s like God spoke to me….

Acts 28:3-6

3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 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.

This was preached at our church today and it hit me hard. This morning wasn’t the greatest morning for me and I didn’t completely hold back in showing it. The idea of this passage is this: In the midst of Paul helping/serving, he goes through a trial (snake bites him). However, he didn’t let it affect him. You see that he shakes it off and suffers no ill effects. In reality, if I got bit, I would go nuts, freaking out. Even the native islanders we’re waiting for a reaction towards the trial, and yet they see nothing. They see Paul’s stable character and change their perception of him. It makes sense too. If you see someone always in joy, even in the midst of trial, wouldn’t you see it as amazing?

…Now, why does he not react? What is he focusing on? Could it be the passage beforehand in Acts 23:11 where God tells him that he is going to Rome???? God tells him he’s going so he knows this trial isn’t going to affect him too badly, if at all.

So what do we focus on? The light and momentary troubles (2 Cor4:17) or do we look upon God and His word?

Eleazar: Dodo’s son/Mighty man of David

2 Samuel 23:10a (NASB) ​​He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and ​clung to the sword, and ​the Lord brought about a great ​victory that day…

Eleazar is one of the mighty men. Here is why. He fought until he couldn’t fight no more, even when all of his friends left him.

Do I hold onto the word (sword) even when I can’t fight anymore? I can easily see myself serving, doing God’s will when I’m all happy go-lucky, but will I be the same when I’m going through a rough patch? Will I continue to hold on to God’s word and obey, even if the situation seems tough (Eleazar, it seems, fought alone)? Have I practiced so much that it has become a characteristic?

I wonder…..

It’s weird… I’m kinda looking forward to going through crap again….. kinda…