VIRTUE RESULTS IN A DIFFERENT RESPONSE – Acts 28:6
Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, an said that he was a god.
Paul was a prisoner traveling to Rome where he was to stand trial before Caesar. However, the ship that Paul was traveling on was just wrecked and he had swam to shore along with all the other prisoners and soldiers on the ship. It was cold and rainy but you did not find Paul sitting by the fire trying to warm himself. Instead, you found Paul serving others and putting the needs of others before his own needs. Paul was gathering wood and placing it on the fire so that his fellow shipmates could stay by the fire and keep warm. However, as Paul was placing some wood on the fire, a viper latched onto his arm. Paul calmly shook the viper into the fire.
What would your response have been had you just been in a horrific storm for over 14 days, been shipwrecked and now bitten by a poisons snake? Would your response been as calm like Paul’s response? Would you have simply shaken the snake off and proceeded with your business? Would you have allowed God to receive the glory in your life for the peace that passeth all understanding?
There was something different about Paul that caused him to respond to this trial differently then most individuals. Most people would have made a great commotion about being bitten by a snake. Most unbelievers would have drawn all sorts of attention to themselves while a good believer might have gone and grabbed all the other believers and had some sort of prayer meeting.
Paul did not respond like you would probably expect him to respond. God had twice told Paul that he was going to preach in Rome. Paul believed God and as such, the fact that a poisonous snake had bitten him must simply be a minor trial that he had to face in order for God to be glorified through him here on this island. Paul remained calm in spite of the trial he faced because his mind was upon the things of God and upon HIS promises for his life. Paul understood that God was in control and Paul allowed God to be glorified.
When you add virtue to your life, your mind is no longer upon yourself but is upon the things of God. Instead of thinking about your problems and how you are going to overcome them, you should be thinking about how your life could glorify God. Instead of seeing your trials as hurdles you must overcome, you should see your trials as obstacles that God desires to remove from your life in such a way that HE will be glorified.
You are a child of the King. You have a higher calling. However, not everyone who claims to be a Christian lives up to God’s perfect plan for their life. God desires that you add virtue to your life. This requires you to change your mindset. God desires that you stop allowing the cares of this world to concern you and instead allow HIM to be first.
Follow the example of Paul and allow the will of God to be so ingrained in your life that the trials of this world do not distract you. Focus your mind upon what God has promised you so that when obstacles arise, you can be free to watch how God is going to solve the problem. Add virtue to your life so that God can expand your ministry to the next level.