When Dealing With Snakes- It's Best to Stop, Pose and Smile!

When you come face to face with a venomous snake, how do you react? Do you shriek and run? Or do you remain calm knowing all the while that you ARE protected?

Today, I heard a terrific sermon about Paul's encounter with a venomous snake.

³Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." ⁵But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. ACTS 28:3-6

Modern medicine tells us that if we are ever bitten by a snake, it is imperative that we remain calm. If we become agitated, the poison will spread all the more quickly. And so it is in life. When faced with a tragedy, it is necessary to localize the effects lest it destroy you.

Here a venomous snake "fastened" itself onto Paul. And what was his reactioin? He did not panic. He shook off the snake, kept calm and continued on his way.

Notice that the people around him did not help him. The islanders opted instead to murmur among themselves. They questioned why God would allow this calamity to befall Paul instead of trying to assist their brother.

It is not unusual to face a difficult season with no friends, colleagues or fellow Christians to help. But isn't it good to know that God is always on hand?

The point is that we must put our trust in God not man, woman, position, money or possessions. We must keep our confidence in the divine and the eternal.

How?

Do what Paul did.

When evil attempts to fasten itself on you, remind yourself about the goodness of the Lord. Paul surely had a reason to trust God. Remember his transformation on the Road to Demascus? Remember how he was delivered from prison? Remember the ship wreck and how he survived by swimming to shore?

Do you feel yourself about to succumb to panic? Stop! Now remind yourself about God's perfect track record. Didn't God save you? Didn't He keep you in 2009? Didn't He meet your needs?

You may wonder why a tragedy has befallen you anyway.

Perhaps your trial, like Paul's, comes to teach others around you how to behave. In the passage above, Paul's trial caused the island folk to change their mind about God. Why? They saw that after Paul was bitten and survived, he did not panic. He did not die.

You may be the only Jesus some folks ever see.

So when you see a snake, remember you may be on candid christian camera. Don't panic. Stop. Strike a pose and smile, darling. You can't Lose!

Don't Follow Your Heart Follow HIS

We know that we serve a powerful God who has a perfect plan for us. A plan to prosper us not to harm us.

There are times however, when we stray from the perfect path. God's will can seem tiresome, too difficult or not flashy enough. The world is shiny and beckons, doesn't it? Or else our own hearts tempt us to wander. During these times, it is best to ask for WISDOM.

If any among you need wisdom-let her ask for wisdom to understand trials and wisdom to overcome them.

But when you ask for wisdom, believe that you will receive it and STAND firm. Do not vacillate! Stand and wait for wisdom. Don't go backwards or forwards.

When trials come, do not seek avenues of escape. Instead of running, sit and mature in the situation.

Count it joy when you fall into divers temptations. This worketh patience.

But you do not get brownie points for simply going through trials and failing! You learn patience and endurance IF you succeed and overcome. Then it's on to the next level.

Is there anything more difficult than waiting patiently for God to reveal His wisdom?

Many times we believe that any motion is better than waiting. How many mistakes could be avoided if we would just WAIT for WISDOM?

So you must TRUST that God's plan is perfect. Remember, as a child of God, you chose to follow God's way, not your way, not the world's way. This means that you can not always follow your HEART. Following your heart can get you into trouble. Our ways are not God's ways. God's will is the only perfect way. God's will is clear, unchanging, perfect. Jesus said, "If you love me, follow my commandments." "If you love me, love one another."

Trust and believe that all your toil and all your activity can never bring about God's perfect plan any sooner. After you have learned of God's will as articulated in his word, then WAIT to hear God speak to you to direct you further.

But be prepared...as you grow in GOD and as you learn about HIM, you will notice that the temptations and trials begin to mount. You may begin to feel that you are tempted to stray more often.

"Why are we tempted and tried? That he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end."

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it."
1Corinthians 10:13

Blessed is the woman that endureth temptation, for when she is tried she shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:12

Stay on the Perfect Path, darling! But know that this heroic feat can not be accomplished alone. Seek to learn more about God and he will reveal the secrets of life to you. The process is supernatural. Keep seeking and it will happen. He promised.