Shake it off

Acts 28:3-5 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. 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. And he shook offthe beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Paul had just been rescued from a ship wreck when a snake bites him. This was a venomous snake, and had the possibility to kill him. He shook it off over the fire, and felt no harm.

Sometimes in our lives, situations may bite us. And if we are not careful, they have the possibilities to harm us. In some extreme situations even kill us. Not literal of course, but spiritually. Many people have lost their faith or walk not with God, because they have been bit and hurt by situations. It can be an unkind word, or gossip behind your back. It can be disappointment in people or leaders. It can be disappointment in God.

There was nothing special about the snake that bit Paul. The islanders thought it was God’s judgment, but changed their minds when he had no harm. Many things that bite or hurt us in life, are nothing else but part of life. But many situations have poison in them, and if we are not careful, they will hurt us. That’s why we must stay close to the fire. We must stay close to the presence of God. And there, in God’s presence we shake it off.

My word to you today is this: Shake off the hurt and disappointments in life in God’s presence. Cast your care upon Him. Let him deal with it.

Don’t let the things that bite you, kill you. Take it to the cross, and throw it into the fire. Rev Gøran ANdreassen

Additional scriptures for further study: Leviticus 19:18; Psalm 34:19; 55:22; Luke 17:1-2; John 16:33; Ephesians 4:26; Philippians 4:8-9; Colossians 3:13; 2 Timothy 2:24-26: Hebrews 12:15; 1 Peter 5:7.