Poison Ivy

When I was a kid, I was highly allergic to poison ivy.  Come to think of it, I probably still am, I just don’t play outdoors as much.  When I got it, my mother would say, “Don’t scratch it.  You’ll just make it spread.”  REALLY?!  Not scratching poison ivy is impossible to do.  Oh, now that I’m an adult, I understand what she was trying to say, but it just seems counterintuitive.  It itches, but don’t scratch it.  Hey, there are many verses in the Bible that seem counterintuitive as well.  The way to become a leader in the church is to become a servant.  The way to have more spiritual rewards is to give to others.  The way to have our needs met is to meet the needs of others.  The greatest is the least.  It all seems to be upside down!  Jesus said in Mark 8:35, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”  The New Testament is full of paradoxes.  That’s because the world’s system is opposite of God’s system.  So, make your choice: believe God and the Bible or believe the world and look out for yourself.  But make your choice very carefully.  One way leads to life eternal and the other way leads to temporary pleasure.  Think about it.