Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. Psalm 119:29
I was counting the many things I was thankful for on a walk last week and the weirdest things were coming to mind. Not having a bunch of bugs in the house and having to sleep under a net…grateful. Not getting rodents in the house very often…thankful. The appreciation was pouring out of me by the time I got home.
Living in joy and peace, I made my way downstairs to get a few chores down when I saw a black rope on the floor. As I got closer to find out why it was there, I realized that rope wasn’t a rope! I had a snake in my basement! I was by myself with nobody around to help me. Was I brave enough to get it out of my house? I asked that question over and over. I knew I had to keep it from getting away and hiding . No way was I knowingly going to live with a snake in my house.
I found a bucket and covered it up, then promptly had the thought that apparently God felt the need to remind me that I should be thankful for not having snakes in my house too! I notice that I tend to be more grateful for things that I don’t have to deal with today that I’ve had to deal with in the past. Now I can add snakes to that list. I still had a problem though. I had a snake trapped (I hoped) under a bucket in my basement.
Timing was everything in this situation. I remembered my cousin was in the area for just a couple days and he’d be coming over in an hour for us to go to lunch. I gave him a call, and he was willing to come over a bit early and help me get it outside. He did feel the need though to inform me that my hubby would hear about this from him. Fine, I’d tell him my scaredy-cat ways myself.
My cousin carefully lifted up a side of the bucket and put it back down saying, “I thought you told me it was little.” Well, it was little! Apparently it was big for that type of snake…who knew. He had me get him some cardboard and carefully slid it under the bucket before turning the bucket back over. The snake wasn’t too happy at this point, but neither was I!
We (meaning I helped…you know held the door, gave advice…that type of thing) got it taken care of and took it outside to let it go. It was out of my house! My cousin was my hero that day.
Sometimes things that are unwanted tend to show up in our houses that we never meant to be there. A sin can show up and make itself right at home in us as that snake did. Be aware that it can happen and quickly get it out, even if that means asking for help. We need to be open today in allowing the Lord to show us any deceitful ways that have been hidden inside.
There was a lot I was grateful for with my little adventure the other day. My problem was in clear view, it didn’t try to get away and hide, I had someone ready to help, and it was dealt with quickly. May your sins be dealt with just as neatly. If you wouldn’t knowingly live with a snake in your house, why would you live knowingly with a sin in God’s house?
