Acts 28:1–16

Be still:  Here I am, Lord. Please meet with me today. Amen

Read: Acts 28:1–16

He (Publius) welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. (v7)

Encounter: You've probably seen footage following a disaster when total strangers come rushing forward to help those injured or distraught.

A crowd of 276 drenched, exhausted shipwrecked souls huddle in rain and cold on a Maltese beach – and the locals swarm around to offer assistance, 'and welcomed us all.' First off they light a fire! (Note Paul does his bit with an extraordinary outcome!) How blissful that warmth must have felt to Paul and the others. We read: the islanders showed us unusual kindness.

And it gets even better. Governor Publius throws open his home and estate to them and looks after Paul and his entourage with 'generous hospitality'. No payment is asked for, but Publius is richly blessed when his sick father is healed through Paul, and that blessing spreads out to many more sick people on the island. 

When it was time for his guests to leave, Publius ensures they are well supplied for the next stage of the journey

This detour was never planned by Paul; but it was by God!

Apply: My parents had an extraordinary God-given gift of hospitality: our house was always full of people eating, chatting, staying, worshipping. I grew up learning that a christian's home was a place of welcome. All you need is a table and preferably some chairs and some food and drink to share. My mum was a very basic cook, but it didn't stop her feeding more than the family every week!

One young man who became a christian partly through their 'welcome', 'unusual kindness' and 'generous hospitality', years later was the pastor of a church renowned for its hospitality. Blessings spread out and down the years.

Hospitality is close to Jesus' heart because it draws people together to be blessed. He instituted Communion at a table where he is the host; we are the guests receiving the immeasurable gift of his presence.

Devote: Do you have a table and chairs and some food?

Jesus, teach me to share what you've given me in welcome, unusual kindness, and generous hospitality.