SHAKE OFF THE SNAKES

SHAKE OFF THE SNAKES

Acts 28:3-6

Paul was at a time of extreme crisis – while on a ship to Rome to stand trial before Caesar (where he would eventually die as a martyr), was caught up in a terrible storm with the ship being ripped apart. He had saved himself and 276 other lives, but they were stranded on an island that they had washed up on. While there, as he was gathering wood for a fire and was putting it in the flames, a poisonous snake came out of the wood and bit him - hanging onto his hand. All the other people sat there watching Paul, waiting for him to swell up, fall down and die.

vs.5

Then [Paul simply] SHOOK OFF THE SNAKE into the fire, and felt no harm.

--------------------

Pray the Word:

Lord, we seem to think that our faithful service to the You is some kind of a shield against the deadly SNAKES that have the power to attach themselves to our lives causing trouble and derail our faith. We often feel as though You are holding out on us, or have turned a deaf ear to us, and that we surely deserve better treatment than we’re receiving. But, we’re determined to SHAKE OFF THE SNAKES - even as the critical and cynical crowd might look for nothing good to come of our situation – we’ll do like Paul did and stand firm in our faith and trust in You and Your promise for the help we need  .  .  . we will SHAKE OFF THE SNAKES!