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The Scorpion and the Tortoise

A story is told of a scorpion and a tortoise who were facing a swollen river. The scorpion begged the tortoise to carry him across. "I can't take you on my back," the tortoise replied. "You'd sting me."

"Why would I do that?" the scorpion wanted to know.
"You would be my life life raft. If I sting you, we would both drown."

"Well," said tortoise, "since you put it that way, I guess it'll be all right. Hop on."

The scorpion climbed on the tortoise's back and they set out across the river. When they were almost to the shore, the scorpion stung the tortoise. As they were both going down, the tortoise turned up to the scorpion and said, ruefully, "Just tell me this - before we drown - why did you do it? I have to know." The scorpion replied, looking a little regretful, "What can I tell you? I couldn't help myself. It's my nature."

Well, perhaps the scorpion may not be able to help himself, but we can. We must! That sting was the scorpion's defence and it killed him. There are defences that we put up to show how strong we are, but these defences will destroy us. It's alright to cry! It's all right to break down every now and then, it's all right to need a brother or a sister, it's all right to admit you don't have it all together! But all, and in all, we must, individually, continually claim Paul's words as our own. That 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'

Comments

  1. Unknown27/7/14 14:48

    thanks a lot my brother for your site,continue working in Gods vineyard

    ReplyDelete

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