“Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” Acts 28:5 NIV.
Habits are attachments you held too long and a little too closely.
My thoughts and comments today are about “attachments.”
Along the journey, we all accumulate attachments, not all of which are beneficial. It seems that we hold too tightly to so much we ought to release, and hold too lightly to things irreplaceable. Habits are attachments you held too long and a little too closely. When you find yourself unwilling to relinquish something you know is bad for you, you have allowed an attachment that takes value from you and adds nothing useful to you.
The Apostle Paul was gathering wood for a fire when a snake “fastened itself on his hand.” Read Acts 28:1-6 NIV. Your harm is the stated intent of the enemy of your soul. See John 10:10 NIV. Something harmful attached itself to him, certainly without his intent. What did Paul do? He could have “thrown a pity party,” but he didn’t. He could have assumed there was “nothing he could do about it.” He could have even blamed God for “letting it happen to him.” If any of those were his reaction that snake would caused pain and harm.
Attachments occur that you may not anticipate, not always being things you can prevent or explain. In the process of life hurts happen, some self-inflicted, some imposed on you. An attachment can be an unchecked temptation, or a besetting sin, or unforgiven hurts, or unhealthy attitudes, or unforgotten grudges, or unholy thoughts, or unwholesome relationships – anything that draws you in a direction contrary to spiritual growth. The Bible gives strong, clear counsel, “Casting down every . . high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV. Memory can be a blessing or a source of needless pain, depending on what you hold there.
When the serpent fastened itself to Paul, he did the simplest, smartest thing, “Paul shook the snake off into the fire.” Acts 28:5 NIV. And the result? Paul “suffered no ill effects.” Imagine if Adam and Eve had done the same. No ill effects! Take deliberate and immediate action. Paul warns about such entanglements, “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 NKJV. Detach yourself from any unholy, unhealthy attachment as soon as possible; that is the wisest thing to do. Read Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV.
Sometimes you can become attached to people or things that are unprofitable; at other times, they become wrongly attached to you. Read Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV. To their harm, people often seem determined to hold on to things that hurt them or others. Just let it go! Whatever it is, don’t excuse it; don’t assign blame for it; don’t give room or time for it to grow and strengthen. See 2 Peter 2:20 NLT.
Don’t indulge even the smallest attraction to wrong. Don’t excuse thoughts or feelings that harm you and hurt others. On a positive note, here’s something you can hold tightly and confidently, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful . . Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” Hebrews 10:23-24/1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV.
My prayer for you today is that you keep a tight grip on your faith and faithfulness.