Divine Protection and Common Sense:

I’m so glad that God expressed His willingness and ability to protect us in the amazing words of Psalm 91. I believe those words, and I am saying of the Lord “He is my refuge and fortress”. I urge you to pray that Psalm over your life as well.

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But you know, Satan also quoted Psalm 91, when he tempted the Lord Jesus. He said “if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down (from the pinnacle of the Temple) for it is written ‘He shall give His angels charge over you...’”

Satan was goading Jesus into reacting, trying to get him to fall for the trap of “proving who He was” or “proving He had faith”. Jesus wisely did not fall for that tactic, but simply replied “it is written again, you shall tempt (or test) the Lord your God.”

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Let’s believe for and expect God’s protection during this chaotic time. Let’s trust His provision and care and not live in fear. Through our faith and obedience to His Word, let’s keep ourselves in God’s hand. But let’s also act with wisdom and prudence, not testing the limits of His protection. You don’t have to “prove” your faith to anyone. Just have faith toward God.

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I also believe the words of Jesus in Mark 16 “they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will by no means hurt them”. But I do not follow the practice of a few misguided souls (even though they may be sincere) that purposely handle snakes to “prove” they have faith. Taken in context, Jesus was promising that as we go proclaiming the Gospel we can expect His divine protection, even as Paul did when the viper fastened itself to his hand, and he shook it off in the fire and suffered no harm (see Acts 28:3-5).

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Bottom line, claim God’s protection, don’t live in fear, and at the same time use common sense, follow good health and safety practices, and let God lead you. You don’t have to “prove” anything to anyone.