“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…”
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
I spend a fair amount of time sniffing around the grill. That’s where little pieces of hamburgers occasionally decide they’ve had enough of the plate and would rather become dog treats.
So when my human’s buddy sent him a text about finding a rattlesnake curled up around the burners in his outdoor grill, I stopped licking my chops and started listening.
Seems that old snake had picked himself a mighty cozy hiding place.
His buddy lit the grill and the heat encouraged the unwelcome guest to relocate. The rattler came out with a bad attitude, ready to strike. That’s when my human’s friend grabbed the nearest thing he had—a heavy cast-iron bunny that usually decorates the porch—and with one well-placed throw and a quick, unexpected follow up ended the whole argument.
Now I finally understand why humans make rabbits out of cast iron. Even though real rabbits smell much more interesting.
But I did learn something.
That snake wasn’t dangerous because everyone could see him.
He was dangerous because nobody knew he was there.
Sin works a lot like that.
It likes dark corners, comfortable hiding places, and moments when we think everything is just fine.
It curls up quietly in pride, bitterness, gossip, envy, compromise, or secret temptation.
If we ignore it, it’ll stay hidden until somebody gets too close.
My human says you don’t negotiate with a rattlesnake living in your grill.
You don’t name him.
You don’t feed him.
You don’t hope he’ll become a garden snake.
You get rid of him.
The same is true with sin.
Through the power of Jesus, we don’t pet it or make excuses for it—we confess it, repent of it, and let God remove it before it has the chance to strike.
I’m just a dog, but I figure it’s a lot easier to enjoy a backyard cookout when you know what’s hiding under the lid.
And I’m mighty thankful Jesus is better than any cast-iron bunny.
He crushed the serpent’s power at the cross and gives us everything we need to stand firm against the enemy.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to inspect around the grill…strictly for safety reasons.
Well…and maybe for hamburgers.
Be wise and be aware.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
