Devotionals

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Skunk Sense
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Driving on Oklahoma State Highway 9 from Seminole to Wetumka, I came across the biggest skunk I have ever seen! As he/she seemed to bounce across the highway, I slowed down, watched her/him closely and gave her/him plenty of room. In no way did I want her/his stench announcing my presence to the people I came in contact with. I was not about to get out of the car and get near an animal that smelled to high heaven like that skunk did! That was the worse smelling skunk I had ever smelled! No wonder he/she was alone!

But skunks are not alone all the time. I am told that between October and December, skunks get close enough to produce the next generation. I guess, like Pepe La Pew, the Looney Tunes character, the smell of a skunk is intensified to such a degree during the mating season to attract them to one another.

In nearly every church community, there will be a skunk or two to smell up the unconditional love, joy and happiness with their know-it-all attitude, disdain for a member or group of members or lively sarcastic remarks. Generally, our response to such a person or persons is to avoid them. But it would seem that God places such people in church communities to challenge, stimulate and activate us. God commands each of us to love one another—including the skunks among us! If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we too stink up the place from time to time.

In the book of Hebrews, it is written, “Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14). To do this, we need to ask God to help us love one another even when other people are stinking up the situation. The Holy Spirit will help us cease being angry, control and enable us to love our Christian brothers and sisters. It’s the way we show the world that we love God and God is love.

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