“In December, 1775, an American colonist (believed by many scholars to be Benjamin Franklin), noticed the increasing use of a symbol throughout the colonies, stamped onto barrels and other items, depicting a coiled rattlesnake with the words ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ written below the snake. He wondered about how the symbol of a rattlesnake could be a symbol of the American desire for freedom?

“He wrote the following words: ‘The Rattle-Snake is found in no other quarter of the world besides America. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, never surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. She never wounds ’till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.’”²

I’ve been hiking in the mountains and heard the warning sign of a rattler and was extremely thankful for that. Recently our little dog was barking furiously so we went out on our back deck so see what was going on, and there was a rattlesnake warning our puppy not to come too close. We were extremely grateful for the snake’s warning rattle. In the Bible, Satan is depicted as a serpent—a serpent who not only doesn’t warn about his lethal bite, but appears in alluring disguises promising great rewards of pleasure, ready and waiting to devour his every victim.

How different from God because over and over he warns us in his Word, the Bible, to avoid sin at all costs for it will destroy us. He, too, has generously given notice even to his enemies to “flee from the wrath to come” and to turn to Christ the Savior of the world.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to be careful where I walk (how I live) and avoid the ways of Satan at all costs. Thank you that there is salvation from the evil one when I turn to you. Help me so to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB).

2. Source: Christian Voices, www.christianvoices.org. Cited on Sermon Fodder, www.sermonfodder.com.

Do you ever feel that God can’t use you because you aren’t qualified? If so, you’re in good company. Many of us feel the same way. In fact, there were very few men or women in the Bible who were used of God who didn’t have a personal struggle or challenge of one kind or another. Moses and Mary weren’t the only ones who didn’t feel qualified for the work God was calling them to do!

An unknown author has pointed out that “Moses stuttered. John Mark was rejected by Paul. Timothy had ulcers. Hosea’s wife was a prostitute. Amos’s only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Jacob lied. David had an affair. Solomon had too many wives and concubines. Jesus was too poor and wasn’t schooled in the right religious institutions. Abraham and Sarah were too old. David was too young. Peter was impulsive. John had a temper. Naomi was a widow. Paul was a murderer, as was Moses. Jonah ran from God. Gideon and Thomas both doubted. Jeremiah was depressed. Elijah was burned out. Martha worried too much. Matthew was a despised tax-gatherer. Noah had a drinking problem.”

It was Ernest Hemingway who first wrote about the world breaking us all but some grow strong in the broken places. The idea behind these words is that where a bone is broken and heals, it becomes the strongest part of the bone. The same is true of our broken places—where we have been hurt, have fallen, or failed. When we bring these to Christ for healing, his strength is then made perfect in and through our weaknesses. This is certainly true in ministering to other people. Our friends are not helped so much by our brilliant logic or persuasive speech[,] as they are through honest sharing of our own struggles and how, with God’s help, we have overcome. As one speaker put it, sharing our faith in Christ is just a case of one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread!

God, of course, doesn’t want us to stay stuck in our sins and problems. While he loves and accepts us as we are, and uses us as we are, he loves us too much to leave us as we are. But never think that you have too little talent or too many hurts or problems for God to use you. The key issue is to be available. Everyone that God has ever used has had their weaknesses, sins, and failings. But they were available, and they have been remembered for what God did through their lives. God will do the same for you and me as we make ourselves available for him to use every day.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I’m available. Please make me usable and use me today to be as Jesus in some way to every life I touch. And please use me in whatever way you choose to be a part of your plans and what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).

I have read how “in Ancient China, the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north so they built the great Chinese wall. It was so high they knew no one could climb over it and so thick that nothing could break it down. They settled back to enjoy their security.

“During the first hundred years of the wall’s existence, China was invaded three times. Not once did the barbaric hordes break down the wall or climb over the top. Each time they bribed a gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates. The Chinese were so busy relying upon the walls of stone that they forgot to teach integrity to their children.”² In other words they were defeated from within.

Ancient Israel trusted in its military might but turned from God and obedience to his laws—and was conquered. Ancient Rome trusted in its military might but turning to licentious living they, too, were ultimately defeated and destroyed from within. The same principle holds true for both nations—including the mighty U.S.A.—and individuals. If we turn from God and his way to go our own way, we too will ultimately be destroyed from within.

As God’s Word reminds us, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”³

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me as an individual and us as a nation to see the folly of our ways when we turn from following your ways to go our own self-directed and sinful ways. Please send a great spiritual awakening so that we will turn back to you and make you the Lord of our life and of our nation. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 33:12-16 (NIV).

2. Sunday School Times. Cited on www.sermons.com.

3. Proverbs 14:34 (NIV).

Dwight Moody told about a friend of his who had been in Eastern lands and saw a shepherd who was trying to get his flock to cross a stream. He went into the water and called his flock, but no, they wouldn’t follow him. So he picked up two lambs and, with one tucked under each arm, he plunged into the stream and crossed it without even looking back.

“When he lifted the lambs the old sheep looked up into his face and began to bleat for them. But when he plunged into the water, the sheep plunged in after him, and the whole flock followed. When they got to the other side he put down the lambs, and they were quickly joined by their mothers.

I recall reading how a visiting speaker to a high school spoke to the student body about the perils of smoking. Afterwards some of the students saw this same man smoking. Undoubtedly, he did more harm by his example than anything he might have said—no matter how true or relevant was what he had to say.

If you and I want to influence others for Jesus, what we have to say at the appropriate time is important, but what we say by the way we live will always carry a lot more weight. According to communication specialists the words we say only carry seven percent of the message we are seeking to communicate. Who we are and what we do speaks the loudest by far.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to so live that my life will model and be a living example of your ways so that people seeing Jesus in me will want you for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NLT).

According to an article in The Community Visitor, Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street in Springfield holding the hands of his two sons, both of whom were crying lustily.

“What’s the matter with the boys, Abe?” asked a neighbor. Lincoln replied, “The matter with them is the matter with the world. One has a nut, and the other one wants it.”

Need I say more? Our Scripture for today says it all.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a giver and not a taker—a giver of friendship, a giver of kindness, a giver of understanding, a giver of my possessions, a giver of love, and a giver of myself. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Luke 12:15 (NIV).

Tony Whittaker wrote how a 30-second film shows six people playing basketball, three in white shirts and three in black. Volunteers are asked to count how many times the white shirt team passes the ball. At the end of the film, they are asked if they saw anything unusual. Most do not. The unusual thing is: halfway through the film, a man wearing a gorilla suit walks through the players, beats his chest to the camera, and then walks off.

“When shown the film again, people are utterly surprised to see him, to the extent that they often believe a different film has been substituted for the original one. Their focus on one task has blinded them to a truth.

“This film trick illustrates a simple fact—that if we are only looking for one thing, we do not usually see anything different. This forms the basis of Professor Richard Wiseman’s new book, Did You Spot the Gorilla? How to Recognize Hidden Opportunities. The point at which people finally see the unexpected is what he calls a ‘gorilla moment.’”² Furthermore, so often in life people see only what they want to see and don’t see what they don’t want or need to see.

Have you had any “gorilla moments” lately? Have you seen God in your surroundings, in the love of those who love and accept you, in the myriad of blessings we all receive every day? And have you seen God in your present circumstances, or heard what he is trying to say to you in your disappointments, your financial setback, or your losses?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see and experience the wonder of your handiwork in all of nature as well as in the everyday issues of life. And above all, in the words of the songwriter, ‘Open my eyes, Lord; I want to see Jesus, To reach out and touch Him and say that I love Him. Open my ears, Lord; help me to listen. Open my eyes, Lord; I want to see Jesus!’³ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV).

2. Tony Whittaker, Web Evangelism Bulletin, http://www.internetevangelismday.com/.

3. Words and music by Bob Cull. Copyright 1976 by Maranatha Music, Box 1396, Costa Mesa, California 92626.

Some years ago a headline told of three hundred whales that suddenly died. The whales were pursuing sardines and found themselves marooned in a bay. Frederick Broan Harris commented, “The small fish lured the sea giants to their death. They came to their violent demise by chasing small ends, by prostituting vast powers for insignificant goals.”²

How often in life “little things” can seem so insignificant. For instance, the kid who smokes his first cigarette probably reasons with himself, “One smoke will not hurt,” never dreaming he would get addicted to nicotine. The same is true of the alcoholic and the drug addict. One drink will never hurt, or one drug will never hurt, never dreaming that they would end up as hopeless addicts.

Then there are those of us who pride ourselves that we are not addicted to any substance, but allow our lives to be consumed by so many little things that are harmless in and of themselves but take us away from God’s purpose for our life.

All too often even good things become the enemy of the best in that they hinder or stop our becoming all that God has envisioned for us.

May we so live that in the end when we meet God face to face we will have no regrets but hear his welcoming words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” How we live today will determine what that outcome will be.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the good sense to know that my life here is just a journey and a preparation for eternity. Help me to know what your purpose for my life is and so live that I will have no regrets when I am called home, but will hear your words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Following World War II some German students volunteered to help rebuild a cathedral in England, one that had been badly damaged by the Luftwaffe bombings. As the work progressed, they weren’t sure how to best restore a large statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched and bearing the familiar inscription, “Come unto me.”

They were able to repair all the damage to the statue except for Christ’s hands which had been completely destroyed. Should they even attempt to rebuild these?

The workers reached a decision that still stands today. They decided to leave the hands off and changed the inscription to read: “Christ has no hands but ours.”

While Jesus Christ paid the price and purchased our salvation on the cross with his life, he left the “hands-on” work of building his kingdom in your hands and mine. We are his representatives and, for many, the only Christ they will ever see is “the Christ” living in you and me. A poster on the office wall at Wheaton College says it all:

The living truth is what I long to see,

I cannot live on what used to be,

So close your Bible and show me how

The Christ you talk about is living now.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please use ‘my hands’ and help me to be as Christ, first to my loved ones, and then to whomever you bring into my life today. Grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want you in their life too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV).

Some time ago when I was going through a time of loss and sorrow, a friend wrote to me saying, “You sent the following poem to me a long time ago when I was in the hospital. I’ve treasured and kept it in my Bible ever since. I thought you might appreciate it now.”

If you are going through a time of sickness or sorrow, I’d like to pass it on to you, too.

I needed the quiet so he drew me aside

Into the shadows where we could confide,

Away from the bustle where all the day long

I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet tho at first I rebelled,

But gently, so gently my cross he upheld,

And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,

Tho weakened in body, my spirit took wings

To heights never heard of when active and bright,

He loved me so greatly he drew me away.

I needed the quiet, no prison my bed,

But a beautiful valley of blessings instead —

A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide

I needed the quiet so he drew me aside.

– Alice H. Mortenson

And so, my friend, if you are going through a time of loss or sickness, I trust this message will also speak to your heart.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to always learn what you are seeking to teach me in every trial I face, so that I will not only have my life enriched, but also to be used by you to comfort and enrich the lives of others who are facing trials. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (NIV).

I remember reading years ago in Reader’s Digest about a company who glued a mustard seed to a brochure that was advertising the product they were manufacturing. Beneath the mustard seed they had words to the effect that: “If you have faith as much as a grain of mustard seed in our product, it will produce profound results for you.”

Some months later a customer wrote back to the company saying, “You will be interested to know that I planted your mustard seed and it has already grown into a very robust plant bearing healthy tomatoes!”

There’s a fine line between faith and presumption. We all have “mountains” in our lives that can only be removed by strong faith and a lot of hard work. Your “mountain” may be a bad habit, unresolved resentment, an addiction, or a toxic person in your life who is destroying you. We know it is God’s will for us to deal with and overcome our “mountains” whatever they might be.

Sometimes, however, we want to do something for our own ends, and to justify it we say it is God’s will, or God is leading me, or God told me to do such and such. When we do this, it is not faith but presumption.

True, we need faith to do what God wants us to do, but we need to be certain that our faith is in the right seed!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me always to be real, to examine my motives and discern the difference between faith and presumption, and please deliver me from the sin of self-centered presumption. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 17:20 (NIV).