Organizing the Inside – Day 232 The Safest Place On Earth

April 22, 2012 at 4:45 pm · Filed under Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Purpose, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christianity, Paul, Protection, Safety

3As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. 4The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” 5But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. 6The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. Acts 28:3-6 (NLT)

There is no safer place, than in the will of God.
No harm will come to you. God will protect His investment and keep your life for the work of the kingdom. The heat of the fire drove the snake out and it launched an attack on Paul. When your life is being purified, the enemy will often try to sneak in an attack. When God has a plan for your life, even the deadly attacks of the enemy will do you no harm. The natives, who watched as the poisonous snake held on to Paul’s hand, commented that this was because of some evil that Paul had committed. Paul only shook the snake off into the fire and was unharmed. Once the superstitious onlookers realized that Paul wasn’t going to drop dead from the poisonous snake bite, that in their ignorance they concluded he must be a god.

When God has a call on your life, He will keep you.
1. Beware of onlookers who are unbelievers, they will often speak of things they know nothing about. Be wise about who you allow to speak into your life. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Psalm 31:20 (NIV)
2. Remember when you are going through hard times, the devil may see this as an opportunity to strike out against you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
3. Know that although the enemy may try to attack you, he has already been defeated.
4. Know that when God has a call on your life, He will protect you from all sorts of danger. They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; Mark 16:18 (NIV)

We also see in the previous chapter how God used the commanding officer to protect Paul’s life. (Acts 27:27-42) The scripture encourages us to keep moving forward in what God has called us to do. There is no danger or trap that is able to stop the plan of God. Continue to trust God to keep you, and don’t be afraid of dangers whether seen or unseen. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.  Psalm 91:5 (NLT) Boldly pursue the purpose of God for your life; He is faithful and will keep His promises toward us. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

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