Got Mission?

But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. [Acts 28.5]

What right did Paul have to even think he could just shake a deadly snake off his hand without consequence?

There are two arguments that might be engaged here. 

One argument is that, as a believer in Jesus Christ (Who walked on the water, spoke to the wind and waves, raised the dead and healed the sick), he hen had every right to act like Jesus. This is a valid argument scripturally. It is a popular stance among many believers today.

However, there is another argument that might be presented that has perhaps even more depth of reason than the first one presented above. This second possible argument is that Paul carried an important conviction in his mind. It was not necessarily a conviction limited to "authority over deadly things," but a conviction that his life was not over - his purpose was not fulfilled - he was going to Rome!

Paul was convinced to the core of his soul that he was going to Rome. The storm didn't phase him. The deadly snake didn't phase him.

Just where did Paul get this confidence that he was going to Rome? He got it in prayer. He got it in communion with God. He knew his own future because he had been talking to God about it. Even when he only knew he was going to Jerusalem (thinking he could easily die there), Paul was convinced and even headstrong about it. But in the midst of the Jerusalem experience, it quickly evolved into the knowledge that Paul would be going to Rome.

There is no way Paul would have known all this without constant and regular prayer. He was in tune with God's Holy Spirit. He was visited by angels. He was confirmed by prophets and others around him of like faith.

Oh that we would have such conviction about where we are going and what we are doing! How much would it change our lives? How much would it lower our doctor bills? How much would it lower our self-help expenses? How much would our stress level drop? How much would it cause us to appreciate every circumstance for what it is and not how we might manipulate it? How many 'snakes' might we just shrug off in testimony of the 'mission' we are on for Christ?

There is so much to be learned from this little verse in Acts 28! We cannot afford to miss it! Paul was 'on mission' and nothing would stop him.

Father, help us to understand and know our mission on earth. Help us to be so close in fellowship with You that we are convinced of our purpose and therefore confident of our authority to fulfill that purpose.