A friend was recently flagged down by a lady nervously protecting a garden snake that was slowly crossing the road. After agreeing not to mow the reptile over, he innocently asked the lady a question. “I’m curious. Are you pro-life or pro-choice?”
In a rather irritated tone, she replied, “I’m pro-choice. Why do you ask?” “Well, you are so concerned about the snake. I was just wondering. That’s all.” To which she responded, “Well, I just think everything has a right to live.”
Ironic, huh? Kill the babies but save the snakes?!
Now, before you jump to conclusions about where I’m headed with this thought, hear me out.
Recently I’ve been asking myself these questions.
Are there any “harmless” garden snakes that I have I been nervously protecting in my spiritual life? Prayerlessness? Selfishness? Envy? Jealousy? Lust? Pride?
Have I been aborting or embracing the carriers of new life that God has been bringing to me? Have I been open to every “new” thing that God would like to do in my life and church?
I know it isn’t politically correct, but spiritually, I’m committed to kill the snakes and save the babies. I’m going to destroy “the little foxes that spoil the vine.” I plan to embrace, with reckless abandonment, all that God is doing in this world.
What “snakes” have you noticed that have a tendency to slither into our hearts? In what “new” ways have you observed God working in our world? Please comment.
Chapters From Forthcoming Books
By Design: Discovering and Fulfilling Your God Given Destiny
Characters of the Cross: Viewing Life Through The Lens of Calvary
Developing Spiritual Endurance
What To Expect When Planting A Church
3 Essential Qualities of Successful Church Planters
3 Keys to Effective Evangelism
3 Ways to Never Have a Wasted Church Service
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© Steve Smith and pastorstevesmith.com, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Steve Smith and pastorstevesmith.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original
That is good!
Thanks, Brent. I trust that things are well in LR. Tell Jennifer “hello” for me.