RESOLUTION to: KILL THAT SPIDER

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From time to time sermons or illustrations that I have heard in the past come floating up from somewhere deep within. Things I haven’t thought of for many years. Some of the illustrations are so old they are new to the present generation.

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One such story is about a seeming earnest seeker at the altar who came at the end of the services and prayed the same prayer each time out loud. The pastor would sit and listen to the pray-ers and he would learn much about his congregation. This particular member always prayed “Lord clean out all of the cobwebs in my life,” and after several weeks the pastor yelled out loud - - “Lord kill that spider.”

It was over fifty years ago when I heard that story and I wondered if it was still being told. So I went to the Internet and found several versions of it. The scripture used for the cleaning process was found in Hebrews 12: 1-2 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is easy to put on pretence of trying to become more like Christ in our walk when we are just trying to get some relief from an inner conviction of wrong living. We do this by trying to put to responsibility for this needed change on Christ.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul cut to the reality of the problem in the Hebrew verses. It in no uncertain words it put the blame where it belongs, on the believer.

The words “let us throw off and let us run” explains that it is up to each of us to clean up our act.

There are words in 1John 1:6 that are enough to make us shudder for allowing sin to dominate us.

"If we say we are joined to him, and are walking still in the dark, our words are false and our acts are untrue:"

The difference between our relationship with God and people is while we can hide things from people everything is revealed to God.

Knowing this should cause us to start killing all the spiders that have taken up residence in our life.

This post has been linked to:  “Changing the World One Word at a Time”  Please visit and check out the other great stories at:  http://peterpollock.com/

Also linked to "On your Heart Tuesday" at: http://www.shandaoakleyinspires.com/
Shanda just returned from a mission trip to Thailand - you will enjoy her report.