By Don Crouse
Researchers from the University of Liège in Belgium noticed that red-bellied piranhas make barking noises when they are picked up by humans. Who knew? Of course they wanted to know why. Ooh, I know, pick me—it's because they don't like to be picked up! (Hopefully that saves the university millions of euros). As it turns out, piranhas bark about other stuff as well—but it mostly seems designed to avoid aggression by other piranhas... and to let people know they really dislike being held. Don't believe me? Ask the researcher with 3 fingers.
But piranhas aren't known for their barking abilities. They are, however, known for their ability to strip a carcass to the bone in a matter of seconds. And while there is probably a great deal of exaggeration in piranha folklore, it's not over their ability to bark. So I've decided I want to be a Christian hungry like a piranha. I want to be known for my bite. I want to bark less and do more biting. And the 'bite' is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. The great part about sharing the Gospel is that it actually involves talking—and that's right up my alley.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)
The basic message is 'hit the road, amigos' (piranhas are from South America). Make disciples of ALL nations, baptize and teach. Making disciples and baptizing... that's the stuff that 'bites'.
There's a lot of work to do. The world is waiting for God's word; for God's forgiveness; and for God's salvation.
Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2 NKJV)
Jesus tells the disciples that He's sending them out as piranha among wolves... alright, it's 'lambs'; but piranha sounds a little edgier (and I've got to get as much out of the piranha thing as I can)… so lambs hungry like piranha. And I know we have the capability to pack a pretty good bite, because we have the Holy Spirit. You can flat out tear it up when the Holy Spirit puts you in piranha mode.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NKJV)
So what are you waiting for? Get your bite on muchachos and muchachas, and let your inner piranha run wild. We've got the power!
Biting, and flossing after ever meal,
Don
P.S. If you'd rather not be like a piranha, no problem. Not everyone has a piranha personality. Be the lamb God made you to be. Just stay out of the goat pen and the viper den.
©DCrouse 2012