MUSIC BLOG
08-11-2022
Be Careful What You Hold!
My dad was an avid reader. This was a passion he passed on to his children. He did it in a number of ways. He read to us every night before bed. First from the Bible Story Book and then we got to hear his excited renditions of stories and poems from his favorite sources: James Whitcomb Riley (Little Orphan Annie), The Book of Knowledge, (King of the Golden River) Hans Christian Anderson, (The Silver Skates), Robison Caruso and Uncle Remus. These stories all had a moral as well as excitement and drama. I was reminded of an Uncle Remus story this week, the Story of Brer Possum and the Snake.
It seems big hearted Brer Possum was taking a walk and heard a voice from way off yonder. Upon further inspection he discovered the voice belonged to Mr. Snake and Mr. Snake was in a hole with a big rock covering him. Instead of running away, Brer Possum listened to the snake and did his bidding and in the end, it was his demise. When Mr. Snake was about to bite him and finish poor Brer Possum off, Brer Possum questioned Mr. Snake. “Didn’t I get that rock off you, Didn’t I get you out of the hole, Didn’t I warm you up in my coat?” To which Mr. Snake replied, “You knew I was a snake when I was in the hole, you knew I was a snake when I was on that stick, you knew I was a snake when I was in your coat. I’ve been a snake all along and now I’m gonna have my turn.”
The moral of the story is you can’t hold a snake to your breast and not expect to get bit.
Paul spoke of it this way,
2 Timothy 2:22 NAS
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
How many of our daily struggles can be lessened or totally eliminated by following this word from Scripture? Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness . . .
Just as in the old animal story, Mr. Snake outwitted Brer Possum every time. Sin, if given a foothold will utterly destroy us. There is great news, however, for the Christian who is following Christ. Sin has no hold on us if we have no hold on sin. When we believe God’s Word and say no to sin at the onset, sin has to flee. End of Story!
Are you struggling with sin, say no! Are you struggling with self-worth? Say no to doubt and believe what God says about you. Do you struggle with fear? Say no to weakness and trust God, “Be strong and take courage, do not fear or be dismayed for the Lord will go before you and His light will show the way.”
If we, the church, begin to truly live in the power of the New Testament the gates of Hell shall not prevail against us. Satan knows our weaknesses and how to hit us the hardest. The good news is that even Satan’s worst can’t begin to measure up to God’s least.
Blessings,
Marty
