SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Today I am going to tell you a story. Paul was on his way to Rome, by boat, and got caught up in a storm. They were ship wrecked, but managed to make it to the island of Melita. There the barbarous people showed them so much kindness.

It was raining and it was cold, so that is why Paul was gathering fire wood (sticks) to put on the fire. Now understand that he had carried the sticks but when he put the sticks on the fire there came a viper out and attached itself to his hand. Of course, right then these barbarous people thought he was a murderer and he had not escaped punishment even tho he had escaped the sea.

Act 28:3 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.

Paul stood his ground, shook the viper back into the heat. Then of all these people saw that nothing bad was happening to Paul and that he was alright. He should have started swelling or even dropped dead. But when none of these things happened to him they decided he was a god.

The experts say snakes don't mess with people unless people surprise them or invade their space. Yeah right, like we just plain intentionally go out of our way to get in their face!

But now lets look at a couple of things about Paul and his viper. It didn't bother Paul until it was thrown in the heat. Why wait? Well, the heat of course. And as an example to us. None of us like to be thrown in the heat now do we? Notice Paul stood his ground. He didn't start running away, which is the worse thing you can do if snake bite. He stood his ground. The snake died not him.

People are a lot like snakes. They strike when they feel threatened. When they strike out at us we don't always stand our ground as Paul did. We start running around acting crazy. Which is not the right thing to do. Stand still, face the fact that you are a real threat to them so they are going to do everything in their power to kill you one way or another. They feel the heat coming from you and that they can't take.

Where does your heat come from? Well from God of course. Then why don't we stand our ground with God's word? Why do we start acting like we are crazy with their venom flowing thru our bodies? That is exactly what they want us to do. Can they really hurt us? Can they kill us? Who is the loser? Do they really matter? Yes they do. They are really desiring to see how we are going to react. Why can't we just stand on God's word, being the believers we claim to be? By doing so we can and will shake off their venom and they will be amazed. Did Paul jump in the fire with the snake? No he didn't but we do by giving in and running around. Let it go. Go on about your business as usual.

One last thing There are also the chewing kind of snakes. They don't strike and withdraw. They latch on and chew and chew and chew. Then we could die. But if and when we learn the ways of God in dealing with the strikers and chewers in our life we will be so much better off. Instead letting it chew at us give it to God, let Him deal with it. Isn't that what Paul did?

Paul didn't get down on the same level with that horrible thing. He stood above it. Then went about the business of keeping the fire going. God has given us the knowledge of Him and His way of handling all of life's issues, so just do it His way.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj