INTRODUCTION

A shipwreck landed Paul and others on an island called Melita (Acts 28:1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
See All...). The Bible says that those people of that land were barbarians. When a viper latched onto Paul’s arm, these barbarians assumed that this was judgment because of some crime he had committed (Acts 28:3-4 [3] And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. [4] And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
See All...). When Paul simply shook off the viper into the fire and remained unharmed, the people claimed that Paul must have been a god (Acts 28:6Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
See All...). Although these people were superstitious and ignorant concerning the truth, it appears that they had an understanding of hospitality. Because of the rain and cold, the native people kindled a fire and received Paul and those with him. In addition to this, a man named Publius received Paul and lodged him three days. The world should never consistently display more hospitality than Christians.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): When Pharaoh's daughter saw baby Moses in the ark, she knew he was helpless and hired his own mother to care for him. When Moses was old enough, he moved to the palace and was brought up as the son of Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:2-10 [2] And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. [3] And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. [4] And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. [5] And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. [6] And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. [7] Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? [8] And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. [9] And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it. [10] And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
  See All...). How did Pharaoh’s daughter demonstrate hospitality?
• (For everyone): How did these barbarians understand the concept of hospitality? How is it that other people who have never trusted Christ as their Saviour often exemplify hospitality?
• If barbarians understood hospitality, how much more should we understand and implement hospitality toward others? What can we learn from the example of these barbarians?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to show you how and when to demonstrate hospitality.
• Ask the Lord to show you when others need your help.

HYMN

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