The Black Widow
When Staci heard her mother's footsteps, she hurriedly stuffed the magazine she was reading under her pillow. Mom opened the door just a little. "Turn out your light, Staci," she said. "We're going to Grandpa's farm tomorrow, you know, so you'll have to get up early."
At the farm the next day, time passed quickly. Just before they left, Grandma handed Staci's father a burlap bag. "Fill this with potatoes from the shed," she said, "but be careful. Last week Grandpa killed a black widow spider out there."
The following week, Staci spent more and more time in her room, reading magazines her friend Tasha loaned her. She knew her parents wouldn't approve of them, so she was very careful to keep them hidden in her backpack. As she was reading one afternoon, she heard her mother scream. Staci quickly stuffed the magazine under her pillow and ran to the kitchen. "What's wrong? What happened, Mom?" she asked.
Mom's voice shook a little. "I was reaching into the potato bin to get some out for dinner when I saw a black widow spider in there," she said.
At that moment, Dad walked through the door. "Mom saw a black widow spider in the potatoes!" Staci exclaimed.
Dad walked over to the potato bin and looked in. "I see him he's right at the top," Dad said. "I'll try to squash him instead of spraying poison all over the potatoes. I'd hate to ruin them while getting rid of one little spider."
When the spider was dead and the potato bin had been emptied, searched, and refilled, Mom took a deep breath. "Just think, I've put my hand in there several times this week," she said.
Dad grinned wryly. "And I put the potatoes, spider and all, in the bag."
Staci went back to her room, hoping she wouldn't dream of spiders that night. She reached for the magazine but remembering the hidden spider, she quickly drew back her hand. That magazine is bad, it's as dangerous as a black widow spider, she thought. No one had said a word, but Staci knew the Spirit of the Lord was convicting her. She knew she wouldn't be comfortable reading those magazines anymore, and she quietly asked God to forgive her.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there hidden sin in your life? Do you tell so-called little white lies? Sneak things when nobody’s around? Disobey when parents or teachers don’t see you? Do you think you’re getting away with doing something wrong? It may be hidden to people, but God knows all about it. Get rid of it quickly. Sin is far more dangerous than any spider. Don’t play with it. Sooner or later it will bring trouble and sorrow. Ask God to forgive you and help you turn from it.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 6:12)
Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.
