After a long day spent in going from one village to another by canoe, the missionary had returned home tired and weary. He had talked to many people, given medicine to others, and some had received his books telling of the love of God, but now the day was done. He was sitting at a late tea in his little bungalow, accompanied by his wife, and a brother who had just arrived from England. They were talking of home and old associations, but were interrupted by a little native girl bursting into the room.
“Ammo, Missie Mary, bamboo!”—. “Oh, Mother, Miss Mary and the snake.” Rushing to the bedroom, the little girl was found in her cot fast asleep, and there were no signs of snakes or anything else to disturb her.
“The girl must have been dreaming,” said the visitor.
“No. I saw it come in from the verandah,” said she.
The sleeping child was lifted out and sent with her nurse and mother to the sitting room. The bedroom doors being closed, search was made, but nothing discovered, till a box containing toys was noticed to have its lid slightly raised! On being opened, out came a large cobra, more than four feet long. Raising itself to strike, it darted its head right and left, but the missionary, by swift blows with a stick, soon killed it.
How often Satan who is called “that old serpent” hides in unexpected places. He creeps in often unawares and hides in our homes. It may be in the things we listen to on the radio, or the things seen on television, or in the books we read, and we need to be watchful. He wants to ruin your soul, dear reader, and maybe he is hiding in some of your pleasures. The Bible, which is God’s Word, says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7). Do not allow anything in your life or home that would hinder you from accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, or from living to please Him. Watch out for the old serpent, Satan, in your “toy box.”
ML 12/26/1954