High Seas Expedition Day 3

High Seas Expedition Day 3

Posted by Ashley Hoover

Wednesday night we continued learning about Paul after the shipwreck and discovered he was bit by snake in Acts 28. Paul was gathering wood for the fire when the viper sensing the heat bit him. Presumably this snake was poisonous because the islanders thought he was going to drop dead like they’d seen it happen before. They theme for this lesson was that God’s Word is surprising. Paul was probably surprised by the snake and wasn’t expecting it. The islanders certainly weren’t expecting that Paul would live and yet God kept him safe and he didn’t even get a little sick. God often does things in our lives that are surprising. The way He answers our prayers or blesses us when we don’t expect it are at times very surprising. I know in my life I’ve seen God work in ways I never would have imagined or had the courage to ask for but He often does “more than we can ask or imagine.” (Eph 3:20) I never imagined I’d be working with CEF full time when I first got involved six years ago. I didn’t know how God would provide the finances I would need to do ministry full time. I had no idea I’d end up going to Honduras out of all the places in the world and yet God has continued to guide in my life in ways that never cease to amaze me. I often thank Him for the privilege I have every day to live out my little part in His grand story. Take some time today to think about your life and the times God has done something surprising. Did you thank Him for the way He worked or is working to perfect you? How He is guiding your life? If not, stop and do it, He deserves it. Just be amazed at what He does all the time, we often miss it.

Wink was our buddy. He’s holding the periscope to remind us that as we look at our life or the Bible sometimes we are surprised by what God does. Look closely and you might be too.