“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19

It’s not like we didn’t know there was a possibility of running across one, or that they were even there. After all we aren’t stupid! So when 7 of the family went for a hike along a predetermined route, we were, for the most part, cautious. Sticking to the trail, we followed the signs and arrows through the woods. It was my grandson, the last one in the line, who shouted out…STOP!!!! And there it was! Right in the middle of the trail!

Looking at the picture…do YOU see it? Because WE didn’t. In fact, 6 of us had already walked over it or trampled to the side of it! IT being a coiled up yellow rattlesnake! But something was strange! It wasn’t moving or rattling. It was just lying there as if in a coma! I poked it with my walking stick to see if it was dead. It wasn’t. But I found no sign as to why it just laid there. So I thanked God and we continued the hike.

Katie and I ran into, almost literally, a VERY fat thick BLACK rattlesnake that same week. And HE was chattering. He saw us from a few feet away and, true to form, rattled. We gazed at each other for some time before he had enough and slithered away! It was beautiful…for a rattlesnake! And it did EVERYTHING it was created to do. It warned and rattled…and ultimately submitted to our presence.

I am not afraid of Rattlesnakes. The Bible verse today gives me some information that I can put into my Faith bag and use on my journey here. I am not stupid! And because of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I am not afraid either.

There are some crazy people out there that take this Bible verse out of context, grabbing and playing with poisonous snakes to prove something that Jesus NEVER intended this verse to mean. The verse is an illustration and the snakes and scorpions represent demonic evil in the world. Wise believers don’t tempt or play with evil. But wisdom comes with time and effort, and ALL mature believers carry scars reminding us of the times we grabbed, instead of tread around evil.

I belong to Jesus Christ. I am His and He is mine. I am special to Him. Because of that, I take ‘walking BY FAITH’ quite literally! I try not to play with things that have the potential to hurt me. But I don’t avoid walking as His representative in this evil world, fearful at every turn at what COULD happen. I trust Him to give me wisdom and walk with me. If He and I run into a snake of some kind along life’s journey…it’s the snake that has the problem!

Do YOU walk in fear seeing nothing but danger… or do you walk by Faith WITH the Savior!