The Mouth of the Lion

2 Tim. 4:17  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.  Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Paul acknowledged here that the Lord delivered him out of the mouth of the lion.  Some interpret the lion to be Nero, the emperor of Rome.  Others interpret the mouth of the lion to be Paul's likely fate for preaching the gospel.  A third interpretation identifies the devil as the lion who seeks to devour Paul.

David (a type of Christ), with the prospect of going up against Goliath, explained to Saul (2 Sam. 17:34, 35) that when a lion or bear came after a lamb of the flock that he kept, he struck and killed the lion and delivered the lamb from it's mouth.  He, therefore, felt more than qualified to face Goliath.

Jesus Christ delivers us from the mouth of the lion, too.  We can all understand how His death on the cross delivered us from a sentence of death (2 Cor. 9:10) to one of eternal life.  But can we also recognize and appreciate those struggles, problems, circumstances and enemies from which He delivers us daily?  The devil is forever looking for ways to entrap and devour us.  His sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy (Jn. 10:10).  He goes about like a lion with an open mouth in search of food (BBE).  Like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

But the Bible tells us that no matter how many traps the devil may set for us, the Lord will deliver us out of them all (Ps. 34:19, 91:3, 91:15).  We are more than qualified, in Christ, to face any Goliath(s) that may cross our path.  We are the sheep of His flock and when the lion (devil) comes, our Shepherd will strike and kill him and deliver us from his mouth.

p.s.  For more information on lions and deliverance, contact Daniel.

Sock Monkey Snippet:  We are delivered from the mouth of the lion.

The Good Dishes

2 Tim. 2:20, 21  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Many households, including our own, have two sets of dishes.  The ordinary ones we use every day and the "good" dishes that we reach for on special occasions.

Likewise, Scripture tells us that in a great house, a.k.a. the church, there are also two sets of dishes (vessels).  One ordinary set, the wood and clay, and one special set, the gold and silver.  Vessels for dishonor and vessels for honor, respectively.

The set of  "dishes" to which we belong is based on a choice that we make.  Sin is what defiles us and makes us a vessel of dishonor.  By avoiding (departing from) it (v. 19), we live in the purity and holiness that God desires.  We are to be (become or be found) holy, because He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15, 16), and to present ourselves ready as the cleansed, sanctified vessels of honor that are useful to Him.

Also, realize that gold and silver vessels will endure fire, the trials, temptations and persecution of life.  Wood and clay ones will not.  As vessels of honor, we should not be surprised by the greater trials and temptations and greater persecution that will come.  For as C. H. Spurgeon wrote, "Thieves are most anxious to steal not the pots and wooden vessels, but the gold and silver ones."

When God reaches for His "good" dishes, will you be ready for Him to use?

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Vessels of honor are useful for the Master

Dance In Your Underwear

2 Sam. 6:14  Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.

I thought it was odd that Scripture detailed exactly what David was wearing when he danced before the Lord.  A linen ephod.  Why was it important that we know that?

From what I find, an ephod was either: a loincloth or undergarment, a plain, simple garment worn by a servant while ministering, a high priest's garment or simply a garment of praise.

If it was a loincloth or undergarment, then David was dancing in his underwear!  Since Michal sarcastically described David as uncovering himself like a common pervert (v. 20), it seems likely he couldn't have been wearing much.  King David had cast aside his royal robes and humbled himself.  He wasn't concerned about maintaining his reputation or image before men but was only committed to worshipping God.  Remember Another who laid aside His royalty and humbled Himself for us (Phil. 2:7).

If it was a plain servant's garment, then David appropriately acknowledged his position before God.  Remember Another who came to serve. (Mk. 10:45).

If it was a high priest's garment, then it carried with it the significance of one who had access to the very presence of God.  Remember Another who is our eternal high priest (Heb. 7:24).  Remember, too, that we are part of a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9).

If it was a praise garment, then having the ark of God's presence restored (back from the house of Obed-Edom) would have been reason enough to wear it.  Remember Another who gave us a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa. 61:3).

David expressed his joy by dancing with all his might.  He held nothing back in his worship.  When Michal ridiculed him, he responded (v. 21) by saying that he did it for God and not for her.  He gave it all for God.

Don't hold back in your worship.  Express your joy for indeed He has turned our mourning into dancing (Ps. 30:11).  Lay aside your reputation (robes) or image before men and humble yourself before God.  Acknowledge your position as not only His servant but as part of a royal priesthood having access to the Father.  Worship Him with all your might.  Dance in your underwear!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Worship God holding nothing back.

A Blessed House

Ps. 132:13-15  For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.  I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

After Uzzah was struck dead while helping to carry the ark of God, David was afraid to proceed any further with it toward Jerusalem.  We're told (1 Chron. 13:13) that David took the ark (God's presence) aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained for three months.  During that time, the Lord, because His presence was there, blessed Obed-Edom and all his household (1 Chron. 13:14).  Obed-Edom knew what it was like to have God dwell in his house instead of just visit it.  God's blessing and provision followed His presence.

David tells us here in Psalms that God has chosen Zion, symbolic of the church or more specifically us, for His home, His dwelling place.  Not just to visit, but as His resting place forever.  He promises to bless us and provide for us, to prosper us and make us successful.  His blessing and provision followed Him into our house just like it did into Obed-Edom's house.  Rejoice in knowing that we have a blessed house!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  God's blessing and provision follow His presence.

A Free Gift From God

Rom. 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whenever we see a free gift offered in the newspaper or on television, we are wary and automatically become suspicious.  Because, in most cases, there are actually strings attached to it.  There are terms and conditions that we must meet in order to receive it.  So, the "free gift" is really neither free nor is it a gift after all.  We had to earn it and we deserve it.  Just like our paycheck or wages.  Wages are earned, gifts are given.

One man's (Adam) sin (Rom. 6:18) earned us death, condemnation and eternal separation from God.  But another man's (Jesus) righteous act gave us the free gift of eternal life with God, something we could never earn.  The free gift came to all men!

Being created with free will, we can choose our eternal destination.  We can choose to deny Christ and thereby accept the consequences (wages) we deserve (have earned) or we can, by faith in Christ, receive the gracious, merciful, undeserved and unearned free gift of eternal life.  No strings attached.  It seems like a no-brainer to me.  Life and death have been set before us (Dt. 30:19).  Therefore, choose life, the free gift from God.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Eternal life is God's free gift to us.

My Dad

One of my best childhood memories was tossing a baseball back and forth with my Dad in the narrow yard beside our house.  I never realized it at the time, but he always positioned me so that my mostly errant throws went sailing safely out into the back yard behind him and not out into the street behind me.  I felt special, having three brothers, knowing that this time that Dad and I shared was just between the two of us.

I can't remember my Dad ever verbally telling me that he loved me.  I guess men of his generation didn't express their emotions so openly.  But I always and without question knew that he loved me because of the time we spent together and by how very special he made me feel.

Toward the end of his life, I made it a point to often tell Dad that I loved him.  As his child, I didn't want him to pass away without hearing those words come from me.  And I only hope that it made him feel special and loved.  The way he always made me feel.

I could talk about how our heavenly Father safely and strategically positions us in life and how, though we often miss the mark, He still loves us.  I could talk about how one-on-one time with the Father is important and about how we can know His love.  Well, I guess I just did.  But more than anything, I want to talk about how we should tell our heavenly Father often and unashamedly how much we love Him.  Dads never grow tired of hearing it from their children.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!  I love you.

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Make Him feel special.  Tell your Dad that you love Him.

The Spirit Is Life

Ezek. 37:14  I will put My Spirit in you and you shall live...

We are given life by the breath or Spirit of God.  God breathed life into Adam's nostrils (Gen. 2:7).  Ezekiel, after he prophesied over the dry bones, first saw muscle and flesh cover them over but it wasn't until God breathed on them (v.10) that they were resurrected and received life.  A body simply doesn't have life without the breath or Spirit of God.

Being dead because of sin, we were quickened or given a new life of righteousness by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:11).  Our "dry bones" were resurrected by the Spirit of God who now dwells in us making us forever free from the law of sin and death.  The Spirit (Rom. 8:10) gives us life!

Sock Monkey Snippet:  The Spirit is life.

New Every Morning

Lam. 3:22, 23  Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

When we wake up each day, we can be sure of one thing.  God's love for us didn't run out overnight.  His love is inexhaustible.  It is constant and forever toward us.  It never fails (1 Cor. 6:9).

Because God loves us so much, we will never be defeated or "consumed" by the trials and troubles we face.  His faithfulness and compassion toward us simply will not allow it.  Even the burning bush, although it was on fire, was not consumed (Exod. 3:2).

So (2 Cor. 4:9), though we may be surrounded by trouble, God will show us which way to turn.  Though we may not know what to do, God does.  Though we are harassed or oppressed, God will never leave us or forsake us.  Though we get knocked down, God will always be there to pick us up.

Great and immeasurable are His faithfulness and compassion given to us fresh and new every morning!

Sock Monkey Snippet:  God's love never runs out.

Consider Him

Heb. 12:3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

The sufferings of Christ were excruciating.  When we are told to consider (analogizomai) Him, we are to analogize or compare His sufferings to our own.  Obviously, there is no comparison.  But the perfect example of Christ's endurance is also worthy of consideration.

Enduring is having the ability to continue despite fatigue, stress, pain or hardship.  It is persevering or resisting no matter how tired and discouraged we become.

In Jesus' life, that endurance reached the point where He shed His blood (v.4) striving against (resisting) sin.  I dare say that will not be required of most of us.  How much more then should we be willing and able to endure our daily trials and resist sin in the race set before us (v.1) when we make the comparison of our sufferings to His?  We must stay strong, be encouraged by His example of endurance and not give up in our Christian life no matter how tired or stressed out we may be.  For in due season, we shall reap if we don't lose heart (Gal. 6:9).

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Consider what Jesus endured and don't give up.

The Same Mind

Phil. 2:5  Let this (same) mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

The magnitude of what Christ did for us is almost too much to comprehend.  He stripped Himself of the inexpressible glory of being God with all it's rightful privileges and dignity.  Out of love for us, the One who owed absolutely nothing emptied Himself of absolutely everything.

He took on the form of a bondservant (v.7) or slave and although He was the most worthy to be served, He humbly served.  Jesus became totally obedient (v.8) to the will of the Father (Mt. 26:39) to the point of suffering a common criminal's death on a cross.

The world will see no greater example of love (Jn. 15:13) or humility.  What Jesus did was not for his own gain but rather for our benefit.  He esteemed (valued) us more than Himself (v.3).

This is the same mind, attitude or purpose that should be in us all.  Not proud but humble.  Not self-seeking but always esteeming or preferring others in love.  Obedient to the will of the Father. 

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Let this same mind be in you.

Don't Worry

Phil. 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Our lives are easily filled with distractions, those everyday problems and concerns which cause us to worry, be anxious (merimnao) and have a distracted mind.  We often become frantic and stirred up over them.  The Bible calls these the cares of the world (Mk. 4:19) and they can cause us to lose sight of what is really important.  We all have them.

Martha had them, too.  When Jesus came to visit, He said to her (Lk. 10:41), "Martha, you are worried (merimnao) and troubled (stirred up) over many things."  The cares of Martha's world distracted her (v.40) from what was really more important.  Martha was definitely frantic and stirred up and even told Jesus to instruct her sister Mary, sitting at Jesus' feet, to help her.  A frustrated Martha let the less important things, even though they didn't seem less important to her at the time, become the more important things.  Everyday things became more of a priority than eternal things.

There are times, like Martha, when we can become overwhelmed dealing with "many things".  We worry and become anxious with the cares of the world.  We let our priorities get out of order.

So what are we to do?  Cast all our care (merimnao), our worries, anxieties and distractions upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7) for He is genuinely concerned about us.  Let Him shoulder the burden of our cares concerning those everyday things.  In prayer, we should let God know what concerns us and what we need, thank Him for what He has already done and then don't worry.

The Contemporary English Version of the Bible translates Philippians 4:6 this way, "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything."  That's good advice for all of us.

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.

God's Reflection

Col. 1:15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Most of us are familiar with computers.  Our home screens are dotted with icons (eikon), those small images that represent actual programs, commands or files.  When we click on the images, the original items are then revealed.  Paul tells us here that Jesus is the image (eikon), likeness or reflection of God the Father.

Picture a full moon reflecting on a still body of water.  That reflection exactly resembles the original.  According to Jesus (Jn. 14:9), we can know what our heavenly Father is like because we know what His Son, the reflection is like.  The Son has made Him, the invisible God, known to us (Jn. 1:18).

Jesus was the perfect image of God's character.  He was God's reflection.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  We can know the Father because we know the Son.

Smitten

Exod. 17:6  "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall smite the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink."  And Moses did so in the sight of the elders.

In the desert, water is life-giving and life-sustaining.  It is a necessity.  The Israelites, having no water, quickly recognized their need for it and complained to Moses because without it they would surely die (v.3).

God told Moses to take his rod and strike or smite (nakah) the rock and water would come out of it.  Not just a few drops or a trickle, but abundant provision from God.  Water, as we read, gushed out of it (Ps. 78:15, 16).  The smiting of the rock met their need and gave them life.

Isaiah writes in (53:4) that Jesus was reckoned to be stricken and smitten (nakah) by God.  All the while it was for our sins that He was wounded (v.5).  Can you see the wonderful foreshadowing of Jesus in Exodus as the rock who would be smitten for us?  In our need, being dead in sin, God provided Jesus for us.  And as a result, we have been given life.  Not just a few drops or even a trickle, but gushing, abundant life (Jn. 10:10) that we may drink.

Thank you, Jesus, for being smitten for our sins.  You gave us life.

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Because He was smitten, we have life.