Today’s scripture: Luke 10:17-24 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Mark Shoup):
When I read about the Disciples being “given the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions”, I can’t help but be reminded of a documentary I once saw about the religious life of some really secluded people in the Appalachian Mountains. Some of these folks incorporate snake handling and poison drinking into their worship services (or used to, as such practices are now banned by law).
I realize that this scripture passage is not endorsing that type of behavior (see Mark 16:18 for the reference to snake handling). But these people’s simple yet profound faith reminds me of the Disciples reports back to Jesus in this part of Luke. For these Appalachian people, their faith is their life, not something that they put on just for Sunday church.
When Jesus thanks God for “hiding these things from the wise and the intelligent and having revealed them to infants”, it really resonates with what I have seen of the cloistered nature of these Appalachian people. Many of them either don’t have electricity, or only got it in recent years. They really live, in many ways, like people did 100 years ago, and seldom have the distractions of our modern technology and constant bombardment of the media in its many forms like we do. Their simple living (like infants, in a way) and seclusion from society may be a buffer that helps them to keep their focus on God. It makes sense that if anyone were going to put Mark 16:18 to a literal test, some of these people would be far better candidates than those of us who can’t help but be distracted from our walk with God by our busy lives.
Just imagine living a life that is so pure and focused on God that your faith would keep you from succumbing to a venomous snake bite! Or, like the Disciples in our scripture passage, being given power over the enemy (Satan) so that nothing can hurt you!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t very often feel that kind of power, and I’m sure part of the reason is all the attention I’m giving to other things in my life besides Christ.
Since it would be nearly impossible to get rid or all the distractions in my life, maybe I could start with just one thing that either takes my focus off God, or takes my time when I could be using that for spiritual things. Maybe instead of watching that re-run of the Simpsons episode I’ve seen so many time I can practically recite the script, I can spend some quiet time with God or read the Bible. At least it is a step in the right direction.
Thought for the day: God, what can I do without, that would help me be more focused on You?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.