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“Shake It Off” by Kirk Hunt
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Acts 28:5-6 KJV
“Shake it off.” The viper, unseen in the brush, bit Paul and injected its poison. Even in the continuing storm, the local residents of the island recognized the seriousness of the snake and its bite. They assumed Paul’s death would be momentary.
Any viper bite is a serious matter. In modern medicine, such a bite may require an amputation. The certainty of the ancient locals comes as no surprise .
“Shake it off.” Scripture doesn’t even record a prayer or comment by Paul at that moment. A few flicks of the wrist or elbow and the snake went in the fire.
Did it hurt? Probably. Should Paul have suffered sever harm from the bite? Definitely.
“Shake it off.” Scripture doesn’t hide or sugar-coat the truth. Even the best Christians suffer in this life. Don’t let your trials and tribulations get the better of you.
Let God’s power and Holy Spirit carry you through. It might hurt, but God will keep you from harm. Practice your prayers and shaking motions now.
Think: God has given me the grace and power to shake it off.
Pray: “Lord, in the Name of Jesus, help me to shake it off.”
Copyright © July 2009, Kirk Hunt
