Kill the Spider
Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
Hosea 14:1-2
A call is made to the Israelites to repent and return to the Lord. Their sins are the cause of their decline and downfall. The world cannot save you and bring genuine repentance of your sins. Genuine repentance means that you vow not to repeat the same sins again especially towards the idols you have set. It is only then when the Lord will hear the Israelites and heal them through love. It is through the Lord’s compassion that His anger subsides and He will bring blessings once more to the Israelites. It is only through the Lord where the people will once more flourish. It is only in the way of the Lord where the righteous will walk without stumbling.
A man struggling with the temptation of sin was praying with his pastor one day at church. He prayed a prayer that the pastor had heard many times in their previous counseling sessions. The man prayed, “God, please take out the cobwebs out of my life!” After he prayed this prayer, his pastor began to pray. His pastor prayed, “God, please kill the spider.”
Many times in our life, we ask God to forgive us and help us to overcome the temptations of sin that we face. Yet we leave the source of that temptation in our life and expect us to completely overcome the temptation itself. We must re-examine each time we fall into the same temptation and see what is the source that causes us to be tempted. Once we find the source, we must do what we can to remove it completely. When someone has symptoms of a medical disease or condition, the doctors wouldn’t just try to alleviate the symptoms - they would do what they can to find the source of what is causing them.
Likewise, when we come to repentance unto the Lord, we must completely remove what is the source behind the temptation that we face. We must not just ask God to forgive us but we must ask Him to help remove the source of whatever that temptation is. This is true and genuine repentance. It is only when we full remove this cancerous source that God can bring complete healing and restore His amazing blessings unto us.
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
Proverbs 17:14
Having little with peace is much more significantly better than to be filled with strife. Those that would foster love will cover any offense that has taken place but whoever repeats the same matter continuously, that will separate even the closest of friends. Confrontation is much more impressionable than hundred lashes. When evil is allowed to continue to develop, the consequences of death will come upon them.
Be mindful of what you say with your mouth. When you start a quarrel or a fight because of your loose lips, it is like a dam that is breached. Therefore one must drop the matter and let it go before it develops to something more. If someone offends you or you offend someone, quickly settle the matter as peacefully as possible before it develops to something you cannot undo. Those that love to quarrel and argue are actually those that loves sin.
Give benefit of doubt and be mindful of accusations. Letting go of those that are guilty and falsely condemning the innocent will bring detest and disappointment from the Lord. A corrupt heart is what leads to these perverse tongues. Those with knowledge and wisdom will use words with restraint and those who have understanding will be patient with how they respond to offenses. It is to the point that even if a fool responds with silence, they might be thought of as wise.
