阅读经文 

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。（参徒 27）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。希伯来书第十三章二节鼓励我们：“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。

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 27). 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.