BBD 08.07.13 Stealing the Crocodile (Classic)

#1 · August 8, 2013, 10:44 am

Quote from Forum Archives on August 8, 2013, 10:44 am
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net

www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries.
Celebrating 15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the
Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than
14,000 subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

08.07.13

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
people, 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 - 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 to 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, again, and again - until there is no longer any
resistance to evil. We give in until - if someone suggests stealing a koala or
a crocodile from a zoo, 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 © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. 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.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or WratherEd@gmail.com
View LinkedIn profile with endorsements at
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

--

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org

Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>

Visit the
Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net

http://www.theburningbush.org

The
Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries.
Celebrating 15 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the
Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more than
14,000 subscribers across the world.

You can
leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at http://www.theburningbush.net.

There is
a translation tool on theburningbush.net website in the top left hand corner of
all of the pages.

The Burning Bush Devotional

14,000 Subscribers
to the Email Devotional

Classic from 2006

08.07.13

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
people, 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 - 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 to 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, again, and again - until there is no longer any
resistance to evil. We give in until - if someone suggests stealing a koala or
a crocodile from a zoo, 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 © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. 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.
Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of
these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent
to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Ed Wrather has retired from
pastoring full-time and has more time to pursue other ministry opportunities.
No matter what the size your church, Ed will come on a love offering basis for
a revival or to share his testimony in the continental United States. You can
make contact at edwrather@yahoo.com or WratherEd@gmail.com
View LinkedIn profile with endorsements at
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92988105

Prayer Requests: Many prayer
needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You
can also post your prayer requests there (Of course, I am always in need of
prayer - please pray for me.).

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer
requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushdevo-join@welovegod.org

There is a complete devotional
archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You can unsubscribe to the burningbushdevo
devotional group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email.

You may
subscribe to the html text group (Because of time constraints the devotional is
only being sent now in html format) by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank
email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the
confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-leave@welovegod.org