31 Aug, 2006

Snakes in Surgery!

Do you swallow anything that's warm and fuzzy?

Twelve-foot snake resting after surgery

Houdini the snake bit off more than he could chew—or, rather, swallowed more than he could digest.

A 12-foot-long Burmese python underwent surgery to remove what he'd eaten - an electric blanket.

"This is something I've never heard of or seen before," said Houdini's owner, Karl Beznoska.

Beznoska said the electric blanket, 6 feet long and wide enough to fit a queen-sized bed, was kept in Houdini's cage to help keep him warm. He noticed the blanket was missing and that Houdini didn't seem to be feeling well.

X-ray's confirmed Beznoska's suspicions. They show a tangle of wire running through some 8 feet of Houdini's 12-foot body.

He speculated that the blanket became entangled with Houdini's rabbit dinner. Once he'd ingested the rabbit, Houdini apparently just kept swallowing until he'd eaten the whole blanket, including the control box and electrical plug.

Veterinarians were able to make an 18-inch incision through Houdini's abdomen and stomach and carefully pull the blanket out. The snake would have probably died by today if it hadn't been removed.

photo courtesy images.google.com & story mtexpress.com, 7/21/06

Hebrews 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)

What does today's God's Story teach us about spiritual surgery?

While the Bible is essential to understanding God's Story, we have to realize that God's Word is way more! It's not just a great book, a collection of short stories and writings, or a bunch or words from God. It is alive! This may sound weird, but remember that God's Spirit actually inspired (God-breathed) all of His chosen writers with the exact life-changing message of God.

Today's verses make it clear that God's Word is like the knife of a skilled surgeon. Jesus will use it in our lives to do both exploratory and corrective surgery. His Truth reveals our real condition and it penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life.

We're foolish if we think we can hide anything from God. His power, presence, and all-seeing eyes are sort of like the ultimate x-ray machine. That's good, because along with the fact that He can't tolerate the sin within us, God's loving grace and forgiveness provide the spiritual surgery we need.

The snake in today's story ate a warm fuzzy blanket along with his normal nourishment. It would have died without x-rays and surgery.

What kinds of warm fuzzy sins (you know, the kind that are sort of a security blanket and make us feel good for brief time) are you adding to your spiritual diet? Don't swallow these lies! They will kill you.

Don't wait around. You are now ready for surgery.

How can you connect today's God's Story with your life?

  • Be honest about the "warm fuzzy security blankets" in your life that are sinful. You might find it helpful to write them down. It could be pride, prejudice, gossip, putting others down while building yourself up, lust, material possessions, alcohol, drugs, control over others.......
  • Now spend some time in God's operating room. Let Him do the necessary surgery as you confess....listen....receive His healing....experience His unconditional love....
  • Spend time in God's Word every day. (Don't bite off more than you can chew!) See it as the opportunity to be with Jesus and then go through your day, carrying His two-edged sword.

How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story with others?

  • Let God continually sharpen you with His two-edged sword. Then your understanding and love for others who need Jesus will be what God wants it to be. Remember that you are a messenger and God is the surgeon.
  • With the current movie, Snakes On A Plane, you may find that snakes come up in conversation. Use this as an opportunity to talk about today's story and then your own story of how God uses His Word to do the surgery needed in your life.
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

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