SATURDAY - 25TH NOVEMBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
THEY CALLED THEM BARBAROUS PEOPLE - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 001
Acts 28:1-2, KJV
"1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold".
The word "barbarous" has many meanings and we shall begin to teach and consider some truths right from some of these.
Our evangelism and making of disciples never end. God is the One who locates us in the next field to till. He sees right and so allocates us rightly. How Paul got to the Island of Melita was something not planned by him. It's something more of God's providence than man's foreknowledge. Though God had told him, "they'll be cast on a certain island" after escaping the sea and its turbulence, yet Paul and others wouldn't have wanted to be shipwrecked or be diverted from their course (Acts 27:23-26). Paul couldn't have imagined what he met there. As a matter of fact, what he saw there far outweighs the imagination of any missionary if he were called to testify.
They didn't know what Island they were cast until they had arrived ashore. In that angel's revelation to Paul, the name of the Island was not given. The Island is obviously a cut off from the thorough touch of civilization for we read that the people are barbarous - uncivilized and uncultured. If they are uncivilized, there's a manner they might have been expected to behave. They might have been expected to be unfriendly, violent and rude. However, these islanders and natives proved to be otherwise. For we read that as soon as they were cast on the Island, they made fire for them, took them in so that the escapees could have shelter from the present rain and the consequence of cold.
It's God who justifies us even when men wrongly thinks of us. It's not your business to seek to speak for yourself. That may even be lack of humility at times. However, He that sees it all can as well win all and sooner or later, men's opinion of you would be different. We should be free from, "what do they think or are saying about me?" It's a bad snare that'll make you obedient to men instead of God. You'll be engulfed turning men pleasers.
The Bible reports them to be "barbarous" or "barbarians". They are not different from the Piraha people in the Amazon world of Brazil that Evangelist and Missionary Linguist, Daniel Everette once went to convert. The Piraha people are mostly untouched. Though, there had been a delegate of missionaries to them - to live with them, learn their language and translate the Bible into their language so that when preached to, they might be converted, yet all failed until Daniel Everette was sent. He became the first to break the code and understand the Piraha language. Though he failed to have them converted but his contact of the Piraha people is no different from Paul's contact of the people of Melita. The two natives could be both described as "uncivilized". They are cut off from the often touch of the general world. They rather live by their own beliefs, cultures and myths - untainted by the world around them.
You know the Melita people are lost in their own beliefs and myths considering what they thought Paul must have done wrong for vengeance of death to still have sought him despite having escaped the sea (Acts 28:4-6). This is nothing but a myth. They expected him to swell up from the viper's bite and give up the ghost. However, that never happened. Like I afore said, don't speak for yourself. Let God speak for you. His sole voice will drown a thousand voices with preconceptions or wrong notions of you. Your defence can't do much. It'll only raise more arguments and doubts. I know a God who clears men and makes him welcomed in people's mind.
Today, the barbarous are no longer uncivilized. It is the civilized that have become barbarous. We should be weary of calling ourselves Christians without Christ like characters or fruits to establish same (Gal.5:22-23). That makes us barbarians! Also, how often do we think the rough would be the unrefined? Only to discover that he is a gold wrapped in rag and a gift to humanity. This is who the Islanders of Melita are. Contrary to the opinion of men about them [considering they were cut off from the regular touch of men], they were called, "barbarous". However, they proved not to be one. Their act of kindness proved everybody who had called them barbarous or might have expected them to act uncivilized wrong. Let us all fight with acts and not with mere speech. One echoes louder and wins without arguments. The Bible has spoken conclusively on this when it says we should be doers [instead of mere hearers] - James 1:22. How often do you do the Word of God so that men may see your good work, be converted and give glory to your Father who's in heaven.
This is Day 1 of this series. You're welcome to the Island of Melita where they said the barbarous people live. We have found the barbarous to be friendly anyway. This is our experience so far in our journey and encounter with men as we preach Christ. God always surprises and surpasses our imagination as what we thought difficult and hard are cracked and opened nuts at our arrival. Today, I pray for you, you'll meet it differently. Trusting God for all missionaries at distant, isolated and forsaken lands, God will shut the mouths of lions for you. The barbarous will become friendly with you and they shall give ears to the gospel.
PRAYER: Father, let us meet it differently. Let the unfriendly become our friends. We have a better testimony. Your gospel is preached and men are discipled.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22
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