HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED YOURSELF A RAT?
Sometimes I like to do a dictionary study when I have a topic I think needs
clarification. In the animal kingdom we know that a rat is like a mouse only larger and more voracious. However, because of the cause and effect of a rat we began to use the word rat as a description of a type of person. For instance, an informant; A vile and lowly person and a term used to cause violence and intimidation. I find it interesting that in our culture the term ‘rat’ is used in many derogatory ways and yet it is a varment that finds it’s place, first in line, in the Chinese list of animals that get a year named after them. In our culture the term is used as a slang like; ‘Oh rats’! It is a bun that is worn in a woman’s hair to puff it up. It is also a word used for back combing your hair to puff it up.
When I became aware that this was the "Year of the Rat" in Chinese culture, it caused me to look at the culture in the USA regarding the rat. My reason is mainly because we look upon the rat as being vile and lowly. I want to use the same scriptures we looked at in Monday’s devotion. Let’s see if we can find ourselves, before we began our walk with Jesus Christ.
At one time we were considered vile and lowly according to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. It mentions the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers.
Paul continues in Galatians 5:19-22 with some of the same but with a few additional ones that perhaps you can relate to a little easier. Like; impurity, debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, orgies and the like. Can you see yourself as you were? That vile person before Christ came into your life? With Christ we have been washed, sanctified and justified by the Spirit of our God.
Until I read these scriptures, I never considered myself a rat. But in Galatians 5:16-18 it says very clearly that if we continue to live for our sinful natural desires, that are in us, we will be living contrary to the Spirit. But if we live by the Spirit we will not be gratifying our sinful nature. And if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law. We are free to live as God would want us to live.
As we talk our way through some of the rat infestation of our environment this week, my prayer is, when we recognize some of these vile things, as still being a part of us, then we will give the Holy Spirit license to get rid of the varment’s while we still have breath. At the beginning of verse 6 in 1 Corinthians 6 it says; "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived"! I personally do not believe once saved always saved but I do believe that forgiveness is ours. Grab hold of God’s promises and never let go! Jane Ann