lions that lie

The king of the jungle. All beasts bow before him. He has the power to decide who lives and who dies. He is lion, hear him roar! It’s difficult not to admire the lion. But there’s one thing that I never understood about his majesty, the lion: Given all his power and all his dominion, why is it that the ruler of the animal kingdom preys only on those that are weak and young and alone? Supposedly he can have any meal that he wants; but he, in his great prowess, settles for the wildebeest with the bum leg.

In the spiritual world–the real world–things are not that different. The ruler of this place that we call “here and now” uses the same techniques as the lion. Weak Christians find themselves as appetizers for the enemy, called Satan. A new follower of Christ can be easily ripped to shreds by our adversary!

Peter, who knew the enemy well, warns:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8

Has the Lord just given you victory in an area of your life? Watch out! Most times we are at our weakest when we’ve just won a battle because we usually let our guard down. Are you losing to temptation and giving in to sin? Are you just tired of trying to live right and as a result you are drifting away from the flock of your brothers and sisters? Be on the alert! The father of lies is closing in to fill your troubled heart with lies from the pit of hell!

Stay focused on Jesus. Read and re-read His comforting words in John 16:33, which read: “…But take courage; I have overcome the world.” Remember to put on God’s armor in Ephesians chapter 6. Put the words in James 4:7 to the test, where he says:

“SUBMIT THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.”

chow time!

My fam and I just finished dinner. The famine is over. The hunger pains are gone. And as I sit here with a warm belly, totally content, I cannot help but chew over the Master’s words spoken by Peter:

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. I Peter 2:1-3 

Have you ever seen a newborn baby seconds before it’s time to eat? That baby gets the shakes and starts clawing and scratching at his mama’s clothes. His mouth even starts the sucking motion long before the milk hits his lips. There’s nothing that can get between a baby and his milk!

I wonder about our longing for our Lord’s spiritual food. I wonder what it would be like if I let nothing come between my spiritually hungry inner self and God’s ultimate-super-mega all-you-can-eat buffet.

I’ve read in His word that His words are the words of life. I have heard that people cannot live by pizza and hot wings alone, but only by every word of God. If our spirits are to live and not die and if we are to stand firm and not faint, then we must eat His words and keep on eating.

In John chapter 17, Jesus, while praying for His disciples, asks the Father to “Sanctify them in the truth.” He then states: “Your word is truth.”

Ask the Master for a desire and a hunger for His tasty words. Ask Him every day and soon your spirit will start to growl. Then grab a bowl of crunchy Proverbs. Pour on some fresh I John. And don’t forget to sprinkle on those Ephesians! Find your spot at the table. Pray that the Father will bless it. Then, taste and see!