FEBRUARY 17, James 4:7

As Jasmine’s youth group started on a nature hike, Brother Simon pointed out wild flowers and animals. After hiking a short time, Jasmine gasped. “Is that a snake?” she asked in horror, looking up at a tree. “I didn’t know they could climb.”

Brother Simon smiled. “That kind of snake can,” he replied. “Let’s stop and see what it does. I think it’s headed for that hole up there.” He pointed to a hole higher up the tree. “That’s a woodpecker’s nest,” he added. The kids watched as the snake moved closer and closer to the hole. When it got quite near, it began to squirm. Then, to their surprise, it began to retreat down the tree. “It’s leaving,” observed Jasmine. “Why is that?”

“That hole is a red woodpecker’s nest,” explained Brother Simon. “They make nests in pine trees that have a thick resin, or sap, and it comes out around the woodpecker’s hole. The snake doesn’t like that sap on its skin, so it leaves.”

“I’m leaving, too,” declared Jasmine, “before that snake gets down here.” “Good idea!” agreed some other girls. The boys laughed, and a few lingered behind, but soon they all continued on their way.

After the hike, the kids enjoyed a light picnic. Then Brother Simon gathered them for a short devotion. “Seeing that woodpecker’s nest made me think of a Bible verse,” he said. “Red woodpeckers resist predators by making nests in pine trees with sticky sap. It caused the snake to leave, to flee from the bird’s nest. Like the snake, Satan is a predator, and the Bible says if we will resist him, he will flee too. But how do we do that?”

“Well… we had lessons about the armour of God,” remembered one of the boys. “Using those things would be a way to resist him, right?” Brother Simon nodded. “Quoting Bible verses like Jesus did would be another way,” suggested Jasmine, “but sometimes it’s hard to think of verses that apply to what’s happening.”

“That points out one reason why Bible memory verses are so important,” said Brother Simon.

Thought: Do you know that it’s possible to have victory over temptation? Use the armour God provides.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me resist the temptation Satan sets before me. I know I can do that by reading the Bible and talking to You regularly. In Jesus’ name, amen.