Listening

John 11:25-26 (NIV)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Here is a story that comes from India, somewhere around the 1850s.

The location was the home of the British Governor-General who had invited the important folks of the British community to join him in celebrating the Queen's birthday.

While the adults were preoccupied with talk of matters political, the children were free to wander the grounds and play. Every once in a while one of the little ones would interrupt the adults with a question, an argument which needed to be settled, or a scraped knee which had to be comforted. That's why nobody paid much attention when a three-year-old wandered in with a prize in his hand.

Nobody paid much attention until someone noticed the child was holding a small, poisonous snake: a Russell's viper. The child's father, with as calm a voice as he could muster, said, "John, put that down right this minute."

Now John might have thought his father was just trying to spoil his fun. He could have run away clutching his treasure. He could have debated or negotiated his father's request. If he had pursued any of those alternatives, in all probability, he would have died.

Instead, John did as his loving father had asked. He set the snake down, and he lived.

It hardly needs to be said that the little boy is an excellent example for all of humanity. Like him, we also ought to listen to our loving Father as He speaks to us in Holy Writ, as He lays out the path for our salvation.

When our Father commands, "Leave this sin alone," we ought to take note. When He says, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him," we ought to pay attention (see Matthew 17:5). When Jesus says, "Believe on Me and you will never die," we ought to be thankful and put all our hope of salvation in His nail-pierced hands.

Dear Lord, thank you for loving us enough to send Your Son to be our salvation. We pray for a new heart that is in harmony with Your will. Help us lead other to trust You before it is too late. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.