On an island which did not know the Gospel, what was the secret to Paul’s ministry having an impact? It was the power of God and the love of Christ working through Paul (v7-10).

The secret to the Gospel impacting our increasingly pagan society today is the same. People need to experience the power of God and the love of Christ through the service of believers. We need to pray more and more for the power of God to break into people’s lives through healing and through rebirth. Lives transformed by grace will make a sceptical world take note.

One of the greatest needs of our church and community today is to see the power of God at work. We can’t make this happen but we can pray, pray, pray until it does happen.

Alongside this praying people need to see the love of Jesus flowing through believers. How we treat others, particularly in situations of need, will speak either positively or negatively. Can people you meet daily, see in how you treat them the love of Jesus? Pray about this.

The result of Paul’s ministry of power and love was great respect from the people (v10) and the Gospel was now established on Malta.