Quote from Forum Archives on March 31, 2006, 11:40 pm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Try out the new website at www.theburningbush.net

The old website is at www.theburningbush.org

Several devotional booklets are now available for free download in PDF
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The Burning Bush Devotional

Welcome to the 1,085 new subscribers since November 1, 2005!!

03.31.06

Stealing the Crocodile

You shall not steal. - Exodus 20:15.

The Rockhampton Zoo in Queensland, Australia is missing a crocodile. If you
happen to see a crocodile, 1.2 meters in length, weighing approximately 40
kilograms, and meaner than a barnyard dog - it may be the missing croc. Call
the zoo; do not try to attempt a rescue yourself! The croc did not make the
escape by itself but apparently had some help from three or four from the
Homo Sapiens species. The thieves attempted to steal a koala but gave up
after it proved to be even meaner than a croc. The zookeeper, Wil Kemp, said
about the thieves, "I don't know what makes someone go, 'Oh we tried to
steal a koala and that didn't work so let's go and steal a croc.'" It is
thought by authorities that the croc nappers originally planned to trade the
koala for drugs but settled for the freshwater crocodile.

As it has been said, "The best laid plans of mice and men.." Of course,
these plans do not appear to have been very well thought out. What does make
someone decide, or in this case possibly four some ones, decide to risk
life, limb, and prison time to steal a koala, and then go for a croc? Most
likely, the course of events that these four individuals have launched out
upon were decided in a few moments of time. We can imagine the setting of a
few too many beers, and possibly a joint or two. "I've got an idea," one
bloke says. "What?" "You know that zoo over in Queensland?" "So?" "They've
got koalas there and I've heard they're worth a lot." They all look at each
other and in unison say, "Great idea!" As they head off into infamy.

We all know what it says in Exodus 20:15, after all it is one of the Ten
Commandments, "You shall not steal." Very simple and to the point. No, ifs,
ands, or buts. Of course, if you wanted to rationalize.it is somewhat down
on the list of "shalt nots" being at number eight. But it did still make the
list. So, we can assume that God did not make a mistake since it was written
in stone. Actually, it was written in stone twice, since the first stone
tablets were broken.

If I were to ask everyone reading this to hold up their hand if they have
ever stolen anything even a paper clip - most of us would be honest enough
to hold up our hands. Now that we (at least some of us) have admitted that
we are thieves and that we have broken God's eighth Commandment.have any of
you stolen a crocodile? I doubt it. What is it that makes someone progress
from stealing paper clips to stealing crocodiles. Now, both are sins (Romans
3:23) but in the realm of human relationships and authorities one is more
serious as to the consequences. Not only are the consequences more serious
but it also points a more serious flaw in character, moral character.

James points out the progression of sin in James 1:13-15, "Let no one say
when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived,
it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
Sadly, for too many of us we know that progression very well, we have been
down that road more than once. That is the road to ruin of a person's
character, giving in to temptation, not once but again, and again, and
again - until there is no longer any resistance to evil. We give in
until...if someone suggests stealing a koala from a zoo, or a crocodile we
are more than ready to do it.

The good news is that we do not have to continue down that road. We can
change, we can turn back. The very first step is to get back on track with
God. You know you have sinned. Tell Him, confess it to Him. As we are told
in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Then, ask Him for
His help to change and to be what He would have you to be. What do you do
after that? It is a continual making of right choices, choosing what God
wants instead of what the flesh wants. Romans 8:5-6 describes the process,
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of
the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the
Spirit. For to be carnally minded ("the mind of sinful man" - NIV) is death,
but to be spiritually minded ("but the mind controlled by the Spirit" - NIV)
is life and peace."

Through the power of God you can see your destiny changed from one headed
for death and destruction to a destiny filled with life, actually an
eternity of life. Why not begin right now?

Copyright © 2006. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

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