I can’t fathom what it would have been like to go through the journey that Paul has been on. He has been through trial after trial, danger after danger, shipwrecked, beaten, and mocked. If I were in Paul’s shoes, I imagine encountering people of unusual kindness after a shipwreck would feel like a breath of fresh air. As we wrap up this series in the book of Acts, I can’t help but think about how we can learn from the people on the island of Malta. Although the people of Malta did not yet know Jesus, God used their hospitality greatly to minister to Paul and his men.
The people of Malta did not put conditions on the care they showed to Paul or view him as an interruption. How often do we see people as interruptions to what we think our plans ought to be? How often do we view our time as our own rather than as God’s? If God uses the kindness of people who do not yet know Him, how much more will He use the kindness of His children to bless others?
Communities change immensely when God’s people show unusual kindness to those around them. It is a powerful thing when the world sees the people of God showing great kindness to both believers and non-believers. I think of what Katy McLean shared on Resurrection Sunday… Because of what Jesus did for us, we can show every person love, whether they deserve it or not. And as we’ll read later this week, God will soon do something powerful on the island of Malta. This week, may we be quick to show hospitality and unwavering kindness to those whom God puts in front of us.