September 10

The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. — Acts 28:2 BSB

God’s promises never fail. Not one person on Paul’s ship was lost. They didn’t reach the shore in the easiest way, but each one made it safely.

There’s a lot of human kindness in the world, even among people who don’t know Christ. Paul’s shipmates received “unusual kindness” from the people on the island, even though they were considered barbarians.

Suffering touches hearts everywhere, binding people together. True character shines through in difficult times.

Throughout the terrifying voyage, Paul’s noble personality stood out. Even here on the island, we find him gathering sticks for the fire. One of Christ’s promises to His disciples was that if they encountered serpents, they wouldn’t be harmed. This was fulfilled for Paul.

If we are doing our duty and find ourselves in dangerous situations, we can trust God to protect us. Nothing can harm us when we are doing God’s will.