“土人看待我们，有非常的情分；因为当时下雨，天气又冷，就生火接待我们众人。” - 徒 28:2
动人的故事往往会涉及一些关乎历险和勇气的情节。这个叙述保罗在马耳他岛的故事，发生在扣人心弦的历时两周的海上风暴和海难之后（使徒行传17章）。即使这个故事中有被毒蛇咬后奇迹复原的情节，但它开始和结束的重点看来或许有点平淡乏味：款待客旅。保罗和同船的人遇到海难、感到又湿又冷，马耳他岛的土人便生火接待他们。
对陷在生命风暴中的人来说，简单的款待能带来极大的果效。希伯来书13:2鼓励我们：“不可忘记用爱心接待客旅，因为曾有接待客旅的，不知不觉就接待了天使。”当马耳他岛的人在下雨和寒冷的天气中出来迎接这些客旅时，他们是否知道他们接待的是谁、或他们正在协助进行的是什么使命吗？
保罗宣扬耶稣的福音的使命，时常都得到其他人爱心的支持。甚至在还未听到保罗的教导或看到他奉耶稣的名行神迹之前，马耳他岛的人已经在接待他们了。
你记得有人曾经以非常的情分待你吗？今天你可以向谁施展这种情分呢？就如耶稣所教导的，向人施展情分是一颗满有喜乐的心的自然流露。
祷告
主啊，我们为你向我们施展的非常的情分感谢你。求你帮助我们彰显你的爱和接待我们周围的人，好叫别人能认识你救恩的喜乐。阿们。
使徒行传 28:1-10
1我们既已得救，才知道那岛名叫马耳他。
2土人看待我们有非常的情分，因为当时下雨，天气又冷，就生火接待我们众人。
3那时，保罗拾起一捆柴，放在火上，有一条毒蛇因为热了出来，咬住他的手。
4土人看见那毒蛇悬在他手上，就彼此说：“这人必是个凶手，虽然从海里救上来，天理还不容他活着。”
5保罗竟把那毒蛇甩在火里，并没有受伤。
6土人想他必要肿起来，或是忽然仆倒死了。看了多时，见他无害，就转念说：“他是个神！”
7离那地方不远，有田产是岛长部百流的。他接纳我们，尽情款待三日。
8当时，部百流的父亲患热病和痢疾躺着。保罗进去为他祷告，按手在他身上，治好了他。
9从此，岛上其余的病人也来，得了医治。
10他们又多方地尊敬我们，到了开船的时候，也把我们所需用的送到船上。
Unusual Kindness
"The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold." - Acts 28:2
Great stories often include scenes of danger and courage. This story about the apostle Paul on Malta follows a gripping account of a two-week storm at sea and a shipwreck (Acts 17). And although this story tells of a deadly snakebite and miraculous healings, it focuses at first (and at the end) on what may seem rather mundane: hospitality. Paul and his companions were shipwrecked, wet, and cold, so the islanders of Malta welcomed them by making a fire.
Simple hospitality can have a profound effect on people caught in the storms of life. Hebrews 13:2 encourages us: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Did the Maltans know who they were welcoming, or what mission they were advancing, when they went out in the rain and cold to meet these strangers?
Paul’s ministry of spreading the good news of Jesus was often supported by the kindness of others. The Maltans showed hospitality before they even heard Paul’s teaching or saw the miracles he did in Jesus’ name.
Can you remember a time when others showed unusual kindness to you? Whom could you show kindness to today? Showing kindness should flow freely from a heart full of joy because of Jesus’ teaching.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the unusual kindness you have shown to us. Help us to reflect your love and to welcome the people around us, so that others may know the joy of your salvation. Amen.
