Some Homespun Wisdom

My father was raised on a farm in Missouri and in turn reared his children on a small farm in Arkansas. He can tell some really neat stories about his adventures and experience. Many life lessons are learned living the way he did- life and death, hard work, profit and loss, the 'chance' of weather etc. In his Bible class Sunday as he taught on parenting and family, he used an illustration that really caught my attention:

"What would have happened if Adam had grabbed a hoe and chopped that snake that was bothering his wife?"

I smiled a little smile, because it sounds a little funny, but it's true. It's the question of our God-given freedom of choice. Every day we're faced with the choice of whether or not to follow God, whether or not to sin, whether or not to be the parent, sibling, or child we should be. That sounds so simple, and the principle is simple, but carrying it out is the hard work. But it's doable work, never forget that.

We have so many beautiful passages of promise about resisting Satan and choosing God. Hold on to these, hide them in your heart and never give up.

"Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." -James 4:7-8

"And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." -Genesis 39:12

"For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." -Hebrews 4:15-16

I'm thankful for the wisdom of my heavenly Father and for the blessing of the wisdom of my physical father.