Family in strange places

The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and in two days we came to the town of Puteoli. We found some believers there who asked us to stay with them a week. And so we came to Rome. The believers in Rome heard about us and came as far as the towns of Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was greatly encouraged. (verses 13b-15)

Read Acts 28:1-16

Our family has sometimes gone on holidays interstate. It can be quite scary driving down unfamiliar streets trying to find a place to stay. Everywhere you look, there are faces you don’t recognise. Even in a crowd, you can feel quite alone and sometimes afraid.

Paul must have felt like this. He was in an unfamiliar land surrounded by strangers. Then some believers came to meet him. Even though he didn’t know them, they were like family to him. Their presence would have given him so much comfort and strength.

In some churches, you can visit their worship service and feel as if it’s home. At times you may be talking to a stranger and you find there’s someone you both know. When this happens, it feels as if you have family, even in unfamiliar places.

Thank God that even when we feel alone and frightened we find family, comfort and strength among fellow believers.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for making me part of your family. Please help me to be a loving family member to my fellow believers. Amen.

by Stuart Kleinig, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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