12 Jun, 2009
A Brood of Snakes!
Jesus Calls Them Like He Sees Them
FREETOWN (Reuters) - Police in Sierra Leone have called in the army and fire brigade to try to take back control of a police station which has been overrun by hundreds of venomous snakes.
Snake charmers have tried in vain to lure the beasts, mostly cobras and vipers, out of Gerihun police station in the southern district of Bo. Attempts to smoke them out also failed.
Officers and residents wanting to report crimes have grown too afraid to come to the building.
"Even during work time when statements are being taken, these snakes can come out in dozens. Inhabitants have found it difficult to report cases to the police," station spokesman Brima Kota said.
Soldiers and fire fighters had been dispatched from the capital Freetown and would try to flood out the snakes, believed to number as many as 400, he said.
Story: http://mobile.reuters.com
Photo: www.images.google.com
Matthew 12:33-35 (English Standard Version)
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
What does today's God's Story Scripture teach us about a "brood of vipers?"
The phrase "brood of vipers" is used three times in the book of Matthew. Once by John the Baptist (Matt. 3), twice by Jesus (Matt. 12 & 23). Now that's a strong statement toward someone!! In today's scripture we see Jesus using this phrase right in the middle of an interaction with religious leaders accusing him of getting his power from Satan! But Jesus turns the moment toward those leaders, and begins talking about their hearts and calls them a "brood of vipers."
The Life Application Bible puts it well:
Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our heart. What kinds of words come from your mouth? That is an indication of what is in your heart. You can't solve your heart problem, however, just by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- How's your speech? Better yet ... how's your heart? Ask God to show you some areas He wants to change in your heart.
- Ask God to "fill you with new attitudes and motives" today.
- Thank God for those new attitudes and motives.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray for someone today who needs God to work on their heart by giving them "new attitudes and motives."
- We need to remember it's more important that we let our friends know how much we need and depend on Jesus, than it is to tell them how much they need Jesus. Tell someone today how you need to depend on Jesus for "new attitudes and motives." Share the ways you stuggle and share the ways you've seen God answer your prayer for a change in your heart and not just your speech.
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