But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 3:7
The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.
John the baptist was all about making way for the path of the Messiah. When people came to him, they heard his words: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He was more than happy to baptize those whose hearts were repentant. When the Pharisees showed up with ill-intent, he had no time for them. Calling them a brood of vipers, he exposed their motives in a direct way.
Later used by Jesus in Matthew 12:34, the name “brood of vipers” implies that the Pharisees and Sadducees were the offspring of vile serpents, bent on sneaky treachery.
A sneaky, treacherous snake appears in Genesis 3, temping Adam and Eve. Jesus later tells His disciples in Luke 10:19 that they have the authority from Him to tread on serpents. In His words, Jesus shows us that “serpents” at times refers to the enemy in our lives.
Have you ever experienced “life” hitting you in such a way that it seemed that there was some force against you? There are times that we hit obstacles or run up against elements of this broken world (including other people or our own imperfect flesh). Some times we just feel unlucky. Other times, however, there seems to be something deceptive and devious going on.
Early in the 5th century, Maewyn Succat awoke, sure that he had heard God in a dream. The words told him of a ship that would carry him to freedom, and the time had come! Maewyn suffered as a slave for 6 years after being abducted from his parent's’ home at the age of sixteen. After his harrowing God-escape, Maewyn’s return to his homeland promised to his long-desired return home. Instead, he found himself once again enslaved, though briefly, and facing death by starvation. Was this the opposition of life, or was there some other force at work, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy?
Eventually, Maewyn made it home. After some time, another dream came. In this dream, and angel told him that the voices of the country of his capture were crying out for salvation. Uncertain of his own qualifications, and insecure in his own lack of education, Maewyn underwent ordination into the church to prepare him to share the Gospel with the pagan, nature-worshipping inhabitants from which he escaped.
It was during this time that Maewyn adopted a new name: Patrick. Patrick fearfully departed from his home, Britain, aiming to return to Ireland.
Over the remainder of his life, Patrick traveled extensively, sharing Jesus at the risk of his own life. To this day, his work at bringing Jesus to Ireland is appreciated and recognized.
It was later said that Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. History tells us that there never were snakes in Ireland. Could it be that at some point, those who said that he drove out the snakes understood that the work of Patrick to bring Jesus to Ireland drove out some devious work of the devil? Could it be that it was the work of Jesus through Patrick that satan whole-heartedly opposed, using kidnapping, slavery, and discouragement to attempt to thwart?
What is the enemy doing to derail the call of God on your life?
Could it be that God is calling you to shout out, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” even in places that once held you enslaved? Could it be that you don’t need a bit of luck, but you need a bit of, “yes” to Jesus?
Today, take a step. Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to forgive. Perhaps today God wants you to step out, beyond the constraints of your own insecurity to say, “yes” to His call on your life. Maybe today God would ask you to drive out the snakes.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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