Who Are We Blessing?

“Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded [us] with such things as were necessary.” (Ac 28:10 AV)

Acts chapters 27 and 28 regard the shipwreck of Paul’s ship on the way to Rome.  This particular verse is the response the people of Melita showed towards Paul and Luke.  The LORD performed several miracles for and through Paul while they wintered at this island nation.  A venomous snake came from a fire and bit Paul.  He suffered no illness.  Paul healed a very important person from a fatal disease.  Because of that healing, all who had ailments came to Paul, and he healed them all.  The people of the island were already gracious.  They provided for Paul and those of the ship.  Those of the ship were convicted criminals on their way to Rome for sentencing or extended trials.  There were lost crew members in attendance as well.  So, when the LORD used Paul and the people blessed him and Luke because of it, all the people of the ship were blessed as well.  Which brings us to our thought for the day.  How much does our ministry positively affect the lost around us?  Are we so secluded that the love of Christ cannot benefit even His enemies?

Growing up in the scouting world, my Dad taught me many valuable principles.  There were several rules we learned that centered on the same principle.  While we camped, my father did an inspection of the sight.  All man-made material was confined to our tents, the dining area, or the garbage.  He worked really hard to keep our site as natural as he could.  If we left anything out of place, he would get on us.  Even an arrant flashlight left out over night was subject to discipline.  As was his practice, the last thing we did after everything was broken down and packed away was a sight inspection.  We had to remove any and all indications someone was there.  There was to be no human evidence to the best of our ability.  The site was to appear as natural as if Adam and Eve were not even there.  This meant we walked slowly at a radius of about fifty yards.  Even if it wasn’t our trash, we picked it up.  If there was a beaten trail, we would scuff it up and scatter pine needles.  He had us disassemble our fire pit, return the rocks from where we found them, and bury the ashes.  Nothing!  Not a thing was left behind.  Our latrine was buried.  Our stake marks repaired.  Not a trace!  The principle was to leave a place better than you found it.  We were to be a blessing to nature for the use of it.

The lost world hates the saints because it hates God.  We do not need to hate in return.  As we age, we begin to meditate on the fruits of our lives.  What kind of impact did we have and will we be missed?  Did I help anyone?  Was the world changed because I was born?  Or will it go on as it always was?  It is easy to share God’s blessings with those who love and appreciate us.  It is easy to share God’s blessings with God’s people.  And so we should.  However, Paul and Luke worked for the blessing of the Lost people of Melita.  As a result, all were blessed.  Even those who hated them.  That is the right attitude to have.  Our churches should be a blessing to the community in which they are planted.  As God blesses the church, it should spill over into our neighborhoods.  This is the idea of our church.  As time progresses, I think we will see a return to the neighborhood church.  As we become less mobile, the close-knit church will become more relevant.  The challenge to us is whether we will labor for the benefit of all, or will we labor only for the benefit of God’s people?