Day 192

1 Chronicles 11:1–12:18; Acts 28:1-31; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 19:1-3

WE COMPLETED THE book of Acts today with the conclusion of Paul’s harrowing journey to Rome. As it turned out, the vessel transporting Paul had shipwrecked on the island of Malta. One look at a map will reveal how fortunate they were, for had they missed the island they would have faced wide-open seas and an almost certain watery grave.

The Maltese people were friendly and built a great bonfire on the beach to warm those emerging from the frigid ocean. As Paul threw an armful of wood on the fire, a poisonous snake bit him. The locals saw it dangling from his hand and became superstitious: “A murderer, no doubt!” they whispered. “Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live” (Acts 28:4).

Paul flung the snake into the fire as the natives waited for him to fall over dead —but nothing happened. When enough time had passed for the venom to kill Paul and yet he hadn’t died, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. This wasn’t the first time people had made this assumption about Paul, and it opened a doorway for ministry that he quickly walked through.

During his three months on Malta, Paul healed and ministered to many, and when he sailed away, he did so with great honor. Malta became one of the first Roman colonies to convert to Christianity, and the Maltese people honor Paul’s visit to this day.

We must also talk about our reading from Proverbs today, because it encapsulates in one sentence one of the greatest misunderstandings in our human experience: “People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3). And nothing could be truer. We’re all guilty of blaming God for whatever happens to us. Somehow, God has become the cosmic trash heap for all our suffering, even as we distance ourselves from our own culpability.

If God is sovereign and all-powerful, He wouldn’t have let this happen, we think.

Really?

When did we become powerful enough to comment on and assume what God will and will not do?

The truth is this: Blaming someone else for our own deficiencies or tragic missteps is a horrible thing to do to. This kind of mentality is devastating to relationships. Why do we continue to do this to God when He is the only One willing to stand with us no matter what may come? Let’s stop blaming God for things He hasn’t done in our lives —or in the world. Strong and loving relationships occur when two people are willing to own their individual lives and actions. It’s time to apply what we already know about relationships to our relationship with God. There is nothing He won’t guide us through if we’ll walk with Him. But He also loves us enough to let us walk away. Let’s stop blaming Him when we do. In fact, let’s stop walking away at all. Or as the proverb tells us, let’s stop ruining our lives by our own foolishness.

MEDITATION:

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.