Shake it off

Today my pastor preached about going through things. His message was based on all that Paul went through and asked chapter 27 and act 28 one through 10. Pastor shared several. Points like that Paul was a prisoner, and circumstances he didn’t want to be in. He also shared initially others didn’t listen to Paul advice, and why would they? He was a prisoner. He shared difficulty, at times thinking they had passed the storm only for it to pick back up even worse. He shared how they got to the point that they including Paul had given up hope.

In the mist of a struggle, Paul turned his attention back to God. He remembered through the reminder of an angel that he belong to God and have a service to do in Rome. He let the others with him know that they would all be saved. Someone wanted to save themselves, but Paul needed the sailors for the journey ahead and reminded them they had to stay together. They ate and gave things to God in the mist of the storm. 267 people were saved as a result. The ship was destroyed as they ran into violent waves. The soldiers had wanted to kill the prisoners, but ultimately all made it to land safely.

On the island of Malta, they were met with the kindness of the natives there. They made a fire for them to warm and dry by. But Paul wasn’t finished going through things. While gathering sticks Paul was bit by a viper. my pastor went on to share how Paul use the same hand that the enemy tried to take him out by to heal people on the island.

“So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭‬‬

What stood out to me was at the natives said “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” Paul was, prior to his conversion to Christ, a murder. As Saul, he sought to kill the followers of “the way.”

Often times when I’m going through things, the enemy tries to throw up my past. A reminder, or at least an accusation that what I’m facing is really result of my past sins. What I’m going through is a consequence of my own action that I am being punished for. Maybe I’m the only one that questions this when I’m going through things. I sometimes let it stop me in my tracks, thinking “I will reap what I sowed.”

But Paul didn’t let the comment that could’ve resonated with his past phase him. Instead, he shook off the viper and no harm came to him. The people thought he was a god. It opened the doors for him to minister to the leading citizens and many others were healed through the power of God at work in him.

So often I have let things from the past keep me from stepping out where God has me now. I somehow forget that Jesus paid the complete price for my sins. God is a just God. He doesn’t keep making me pay years and even decades later when Jesus paid the price and full. I need to, like Paul, shake off the attack and continue to move forward in what God has called me to. Like a dog shakes itself off after a bath or a swim in the water, I need to shake off the titles of the past that try to keep me from stepping out.

Lord, thank You for the visual reminder that I don’t have to allow the attacks of the enemy to cling to me, I have the ability to shake off anything he throws at me. Thank You that Christ paid the price for my past and that You have forgiven me completely. Help me to walk in that knowledge.