Acts 28:1

Acts 28:1 says, And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita,  Verse two adds, 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.  After surviving the shipwreck and having the natives be friendly, things were looking better.  When they were settled, due to the rain and cold, they built a fire.  Verse three continues, And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.  While Paul was putting wood on the fire, he was bitten by a viper, which attached itself to his hand.  About now, we might be asking, "What next, Lord." It would seem to me that Paul had suffered enough by now.  Just because we are following God's will for our life does not mean that we be limited in the amount that we suffer, but instead that God will be with us through the suffering. Ultimately if we are obedient, He will be glorified by our obedience through the suffering.  Verse four states, And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.  The barbarians, seeing the viper latch onto Paul's hand, decided he must be a murderer, who had escaped the sea only to have vengeance claim his life. Today, we often hear the statement that if something bad is happening to someone, especially a Christian, that they must be being punished for some sin.  As Christians, we don't see it as the universe or karma or any other belief.  We see it as God's punishment of some sin.  They, like Paul, may not be being punished for anything, but just have been put in a position to bring glory to God.  Verse five adds, And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  Paul shook the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  When we are truly doing God's work and following His will, we don't have to worry about the things of this world overcoming us.  Verse six continues, Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.  The barbarians were amazed, and when Paul didn't fall down and die, they thought he was a god instead of a murderer. We can never let anyone attempt to treat us as a god.  Even if God does something miraculous through us, we must make sure the glory goes to Him.  We do not perform miracles. God performs miracles, and sometimes we are blessed enough for Him to perform them through us.  If someone begins to tell you about the miracles they have performed, something is wrong. If they tell you they are going to perform a miracle at a certain time, something is wrong. We do not dictate God's miracles.  Anytime the emphasis is on a person and not God, something is wrong.  Only when the emphasis is on God and His power is everything right.