Shake It Off
In 2014 Taylor Swift’s song, “Shake It Off” made it to number one on Billboard’s Hot 100. Swift was tired of people dissecting who she was, what she looked like, and what she did. Her way of dealing with these comments was to “shake them off.”
But Swift wasn’t the first to use this technique. The Apostle Paul used it on the isle of Malta.
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” (Acts 28:3-5 NIV)
Paul’s ship had wrecked on a reef off the shores of Malta. The locals provided help and built a fire to help warm them up. After putting some wood down near the fire, Paul was attacked by a deadly viper, which latched upon his hand.
When the locals saw this they commented that Paul was getting his due and justice was being served. But Paul just shook the viper off into the fire and didn’t suffer and die as the people expected. Therefore they changed their view or position concerning him.
Because of situations or circumstances that occur in our lives, people judge our worthiness. They’ll bring false allegations and unjust or unwarranted criticism due to their limited perception.
If there’s no fault then these cannot attach themselves to us, but if they have, or if we let them then we must shake them off and continue doing what God has given us to do.
God will protect and deliver those who trust in Him. “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25 NKJV)
Shake it off!