BBD 04.16.03 Suddenly
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
(Over 8,000 subscribers in 75 countries)
04.16.03
Suddenly
My son, let them not depart from your eyes--keep sound wisdom and
discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then
you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you
lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will
be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked
when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot
from being caught. - Proverbs 3:21-16.
Police radios echoed with a strange alert in Espelkamp, Germany one
afternoon, "Be on the lookout for a wild boar wanted in connection with a
breaking and entering and felonious assault." "The boar is of medium
stature and build." An older German couple had their afternoon nap rudely
and suddenly interrupted by a wild boar which crashed into their apartment
building through a glass door and then rammed its way into the couple's
apartment. The boar left a trail of blood behind while exploring the
apartment before finally jumping into bed with the couple. The boar bit the
man and then flee the scene of the crime. Ute Bort, spokeswoman for the
police department said, "The boar expended considerable criminal energy in
committing this act." Thankfully the man was not seriously injured by the
attack.
Many things good and bad occur suddenly in our lives. The couple in Germany
were certainly shocked to find a wild boar in bed with them as would any of
us. We were shocked yesterday to have a small tornado hit the school in our
community. Thankfully only one person in a mobile home near the school was
injured and he has been released from the hospital. Tornados have a
tendency to follow a similar path and I have been told many times about a
tornado that hit the school in the past. The tornado which hit the school
years ago struck as the superintendent was taking a shower and it blew the
roof off his house. It must have been a shock!
Good things also happen suddenly and often unexpectedly. When God speaks
and tells you about His call upon your life for example. When it happens it
will define the rest of your life as to how you respond. It was a great
shock for Moses at 80 years of age to encounter a bush that did not burn.
It must have been a shock for Noah to learn that there would be a great
flood and that he would be the one to build a boat to save the remnant of
mankind. Abraham must have been shocked when he heard the voice of God call
him to leave his civilized country and go to a place he had never been.
Jonah was not only shocked but offended when God called him to that wicked
country of Nineveh. The disciples of Jesus must have been shocked at their
call but they all followed.
God through the writer of Proverbs tells how to handle sudden changes
whether they are good or bad. "Keep sound wisdom and discretion." He is
talking about the wisdom and discretion that can only come from God. If we
are walking closely with God, reading His Word, praying daily in a
meaningful way, assembling regularly with other believers, and seeking to
serve God as He directs then we will be ready to respond rightly. The
response we make to sudden changes in our lives will define the remainder of
our lives. If we are walking with God we will not be afraid but will have
His "confidence" as we move forward in the assurance of His power. We will
then have "life" no matter what life brings our way.
Copyright © 2003. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited.
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