Shake Off The Snake

Everything that can distract us or defeat us or hold us back, must be shaken off!

 

He was the New Testament’s official ‘globetrotter’. His three missionary journeys and final trip to Rome took the last 36 years of his life, covered over 9000 miles walking or sailing and the cost (in today’s currency) for his in-transit travel expenses would be roughly $300,000.  That doesn’t include Paul’s expenses once he arrived at his destinations and stayed.  He spent eighteen months in Corinth and nearly three years in Ephesus, so his missionary journeys were quite expensive!

Paul knew his assignment from his first encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Writing to his supporters in Romans 11:13 he says, As you know, God has appointed me as a special messenger to you Gentiles.”  TLB

 As he faced severe opposition from the ‘Jewish community’ of his past, it only cemented his calling further into the fabric of his life. His commitment to finishing well comes through loud and clear in this statement: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13,14 NIV

 Over those long trips, clashes with unbelievers, broken schedules, occasional mistakes, wonderful victories, shipwrecks and stoning’s (and we could go on) he kept moving and reaching forward!

God spoke to him in his final shipwreck in the middle of a ferocious storm and told him the last assignment in his quest to follow Jesus: “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…” Acts 27 24 TLB

He shows one more insight into his confidence in getting to the finish line, when soaking wet and picking up firewood on a beach on Malta, a pit viper bit him on the arm and those watching waited for him to die. But the Official Record states: “But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” Acts 28:3 TLB

 In your future, whatever bites or clings to you, don’t let it distract you, let alone kill you. In every occasion of discouragement or hopelessness, weariness or attacks, ‘shake off the snake’ and press forward!

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