Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Debating the Snake

Tuesday, August 9, 2016
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made.  One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”  “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.  “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat.  God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”  “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.  “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”  The woman was convinced.  She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.  So she took some of the fruit and ate it.  Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.  So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  Genesis 3:1-7(NLT)
Snakes and Preacher Brownworth have always had short conversations.  Generally, whenever I meet a snake I try to keep my head…and make sure the snake loses his!  In nearly threescore and ten years on this planet I have not changed my opinion about this relationship in the slightest!

Have you ever noticed the patience of snakes?  Snakes will wait for you to move right next to them; they’re really good at camouflage.  Several weeks ago I was standing within a few feet of a copperhead our dog had discovered in our yard.  Elizabeth was pointing it out to me…and I still couldn’t see it.  Eventually I introduced him to my shovel!  You never debate with a snake!

And therein is the best lesson learned from Eve’s encounter with Lucifer:
You never debate about sin…you run from sin!

In the Garden of Eden, Eve got drawn into a debate, and the human race has been going downhill in that department ever since! 

Had she been a little more patient, or better yet, not even answered the old serpent at all, he would not have been able to trick her into taking the forbidden fruit.

Solomon, perhaps the wisest amongst Adam’s entire race said:

My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!  
Proverbs 1:10(NLT)

Paul warned that resisting temptation is a spiritual battle:

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  
Ephesians 6:13(NLT)

For You Today

It’s a wise thing to remember that forbidden fruit is forbidden for a very good reason.  And when God does the forbidding, you can rest assured that reason is for your benefit, and not just to deprive you of something. 

So…gear up, put on your spiritual armor…and don’t debate the snake!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today…have a blessed day!


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NOTES
[i] Title Image: By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, via Wikimedia Commons

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