Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Ash Wednesday

 

Lent Series

 

Ephesians 4:27 “and do not give the devil a foothold.” 

 

Snakes

In our lives we must all know our limits.   Many times people wait until they are face to face with a circumstance and then they draw their limits.   I believe it is helpful in our lives to be prepared with our limits before we are confronted with the situation.  

 

Our church is providing a home for 452 elementary students. The other day my secretary Jan received a package that was actually for the school.  The school day was over and the office at the church was on the verge of closing.   The package said, “Perishable – Open Immediately.”   Jan responsibly tried to call the principal of the school and was unable to reach her.   She thought about putting the package in the refrigerator sealed.   But upon reflection decided it would be best for her to open the package.   Imagine Jan’s surprise when she opened the package only to find it contained 100 frogs!    Jan called me that night about another matter and just mentioned, “Oh by the way, the school received 100 frogs today!”  She told me the story and I laughed.    Later that evening, I began thinking about the frogs and wondered what other creatures the school might have brought inside the church.  

 

The next day I knocked on Becky Comer’s door.  Becky is the principal at Spanish Fort School.   She and Jeff are close friends of my wife and I.   I said without prelude, “Becky, I am fine with snails, fish, frogs, butterflies, and gerbils.  However, if a snake comes into the church my next move will be to get a hoe!”    Every now and then, Cronicville bubbles up through my suburban veneer.    The truth is I don’t like snakes.   My girls don’t like snakes.  My parents didn’t like snakes.  My grandparents didn’t like snakes.  If one gets in my yard he needs to leave before I come back with the hoe.   In other words, snakes are one of my limits.  

 

The Bible talks about all kinds of moral limits.   Our moral limits are set by the Ten Commandments.  They remind us that we are to love God and only worship Him, never to misuse His name and to always keep his name Holy.   In our relationships with others we are also to represent the best of God’s will.  We honor our parents. We do not commit acts of hate or lust.  We do not steal.  We do not lie.  We do not covet.  

 

In our lives we must be people who live by limits, never allowing the devil to get a foothold on our hearts.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, keep me within your limits.  Amen