Do You Have Rabies?

I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the man who was bitten by a dog. He went to the doctor to be checked over, and sure enough, the doctor returned with the news that the man had indeed been infected with rabies.

The man then asked the doctor for a piece of paper and a pen, and he began writing. The doctor was taken back by this request and finally assumed that this man was writing out his will, so the doctor said, “Sir, I know being told you have rabies is something you never want to hear, but be assured, medicine has advanced through the years, and this is no longer fatal. Therefore, there’s no need to make out your will. You’ll be fine in just a few weeks.” Upon hearing this, the man looked at the doctor and said, “My will? I’m not making out my will. I’m making a list of people I’m going to bite before I’m cured!”

We probably all know people who are like this man, and if we’re perfectly honest without ourselves, we may sometimes succumb to this attitude too. However, the apostle Paul said, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

If you were infected with rabies, would you be asking your doctor for a pen and piece of paper? Give it some thought.

by Steve Higginbotham

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