Only One God!

    Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
   Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
   And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
   She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
   Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
   What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
   Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

   Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

   Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
   Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
   Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
   Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
   Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
   Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
   Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

                                                                  Job 39:13-19, 40:8-14 KJV

When I was young, one of my supervisors critiqued me for answering the majority of his questions (which were usually personal and none of his business) with a question. This is how the Lord answered forlorn Job. 

Job had lost everything and everyone. His grief is beyond comprehension. He wants to know why this has happened; after all he is a just man. The Lord answers Job with questions. Who gave wings to the peacock and the ostrich? What do they know? Have they wisdom enough not to let their eggs be trampled by man? Who are you, man, to disavow my judgments? Who are you to make me look unrighteous so that you might look righteous? 

Go ahead and try Job. Go ahead and try, humankind. Do you think that you can do what God can do? Do you think that you can save yourself? Know this: there is only one God and we are not Him! 

Trust the Lord your God above all things!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear That Old Snake

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul 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. When 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, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:1-5 NIV

The other evening, I was walking around the yard barefoot, as is a habit of mine. People keep warning me about it. But, I don't pay much attention to them. As I walked under the tree in the front yard I heard something drop to the ground in front of me. As I put my foot down to take the next step I felt it slither out from under my foot quickly . It was one of those snakes that the neighbors and my husband had been warning me about. No, it did not strike me nor did I crush it's head. But, that old snake took no time in disappearing.

The snake has become symbolic of temptation as well as the evil one. Unfortunately, we all succumb to temptation from time to time. We get just a little too close to temptations. Often, we don't even see him coming before that old serpent is upon us. Sometimes he's come and gone before we realize that we've accepted his invitation to stray from The Way.

There was no avoiding that viper by St. Paul. He had no way of knowing that it was in the fire. But, it doesn't sound like he panicked; doesn't sound like he screamed. He just shook it off and continued as if it was nothing. Because it was nothing worth getting excited about.

It is sometimes difficult to see temptation as it advances. There are things we can do to avoid confrontation with the old snake. But; sometimes, it cannot be helped and when temptations do come it is best to send them quickly on their way. Don't play with them. But; neither, let them cause you to tremble in fear.

There is no need to fear. By his death, Jesus overcame the power of sin, death, and of the devil. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that the serpent had convinced them they should eat they were kicked out of paradise. But, paradise was opened for all who would believe when Jesus died on the cross, in our place, for our sins.

The serpent did not escape consequences for his part in this turning their backs on God.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

                                  Genesis 3:14-15

Jesus crushed the head of the serpent when he died on the cross, descended into hell, and rose again; taking away the power the evil one had over us. Do not give that power back to the serpent by yielding to his whims. Neither should you fear that old snake. Jesus has crushed his power over you.

May the Lord, keep us from straying; delivering us from all temptations and all evil.

God's Peace - Pr. J