Why Does the Bible Use Lion Imagery? Here in America, few animals inspire more fear than the Mountain lion. It is a top predator fully capable of killing and devouring a person. Why does the Bible use the imagery of lions so often? In ancient Israel, the most feared predator was also a lion. When we picture biblical lions, however, we often imagine the wrong kind. The Real Lions of Ancient Israel The lion of Israel was the Asiatic lion, slightly smaller than the African lion, grayish-tan in color, and marked by a smaller mane. Sadly, this lion disappeared from Israel around the time of the Crusades. Several well-known biblical figures encountered them, and understanding that helps us better understand why Scripture uses the lion as such a powerful image. Before David was king he was said to have defeated lions (1 Samuel 17:34-37). Samson was said to have killed a lion with his bare hands by the Spirit's power in Judges 14:5-6. Encounters with lions were not that rare. Shepherds often had to defend their flocks against them. These real threats made the lion a powerful symbol when Jacob prophesied over his sons. Why Judah Received the Greatest Blessing In Genesis 49, Jacob blesses and prophesies over his heirs as he lay on his deathbed. Here we first see the foundation of the title Lion of the Tribe of Judah. What begins as a blessing over Judah in Genesis becomes a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah. His greatest blessing was saved for his son Judah. Judah had been a wayward young man, but had become a joy to his father. It was Judah who suggested selling Joseph into slavery instead of killing him. Later, it was Judah who offered to trade himself for Benjamin to stay in Egypt with Joseph because he feared the loss of Benjamin would be so great it might kill his father (Genesis 44:33-34). This flawed man became the line through which the ultimate Lion would come. This reminds us that God's grace often flows through flawed people. The Prophecy of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Jacob's blessing is found in Genesis 49:9-12. When you read this you see a prophecy not just of Judah and his offspring's success, but of a coming King whose rule will endure beyond Judah himself. Jacob describes Judah as a lion whose power will be feared, whose people will obey him, and from whose line the scepter will never depart. He speaks of the donkey's colt tied to the choice vine and that his garments would be washed in the blood of grapes. Isn't it amazing? Through God's grace Jacob could speak about Messianic fulfillment and hint at the coming Messiah and His eternal reign. The Lion as a Symbol of Kingship and Power In Scripture, the lion was more than a dangerous animal. It became a picture of royal power. God was the only One more powerful than the king. Kings were often compared to lions because they inspired fear and ruled with strength, yet they were also expected to be shepherds who guarded and cared for their people. The lion image does not remain with Judah alone. As the Old Testament unfolds, God is also described in this way. God the Lion Who Defends and Judges In Isaiah 31:4 we read, "For thus the Lord said to me, “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill."" God will fight for His people. He will watch over them so no one defeats them. But the lion is not only a defender. The same God who protects His people also judges those who oppose Him. In Jeremiah 49:19 the prophet warns the people of Edom, “Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan; Against the dwelling place of the strong; But I will suddenly make him run away from her. And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her? For who is like Me? Who will arraign Me? And who is that shepherd Who will withstand Me?” Jeremiah prophesies against them because of their betrayal of Judah to the Babylonians and their arrogance in their mountainous terrain. Edom was eventually totally destroyed just as Jeremiah predicted. When God opposes you—be warned. As a lion is to be feared, so is God. The Lion Who Calls His People Home Yet judgment is not the final word. The roar of the lion can also be a call that His people respond to. In Hosea 11:10 God expresses His great love and compassion for Israel, “They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;" In this verse God is saying He will "roar like a lion" and bring His exiled people back to their home. They hear and tremble with respect and awe before Him, their one true King, their lion. All of these images prepare us for the final and greatest fulfillment. The lion promised to Judah, who defends, judges, and calls His people, is fully revealed in Christ. Christ the Lion of Judah and the Slain Lamb Finally, in Revelation 5:5 we find the only one who can open the scroll and the seven seals. “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And this lion, predicted from the time of Genesis, in the next verse is described as a slain lamb. A worthy lamb who is given blessing, and honor, and glory, and power (Revelation 5:12-13). Both descriptions are necessary. The Lion shows His authority, victory, and kingship; the Lamb shows His sacrifice, mercy, and atonement. Together they reveal that Christ saves not by denying His power, but by using His power to lay down His life. This mighty One, who can not be defeated, has willingly become a lamb. This lamb, slaughtered for the sins of His people, will forever be praised for the sacrifice that He made. In Revelation 7:17 we are told He will forever shepherd His people and guide them to living water. His people's names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). Is your name written in His book? The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, so powerful and fearful, has laid down His life and become for us what we could not. He is the worthy sacrifice. Only He, "slain before the foundation of the world," could reach down from Heaven and lift us up to live with Him eternally (Revelation 13:8). All praise to God our King for the gift of His Son, for the mighty lion who defeated death and forgives us of our sins. This Son who died as a lamb to reconcile us with the Father. The mountain lion we fear is nothing compared to the Lion of Judah—who chose to become a Lamb for us.

Our Deep Need for God's Mercy We all have a need for the mercy and grace of God. Many people can listen to the gospel and understand, but still not accept it because they see no need for it. Why should I believe in God they say to themselves. I am fine without Him. But are they? When we stand at a crossroads in our life and see the enormity of our sin before the perfection of God, that is when we see our need. Then we ask God, "Help my unbelief!" Desperate for Jesus We don't always come to God filled with faith. Sometimes like the father of the child with the mute spirit in Mark 9:14-29 we are desperate for Jesus. The Father approaches Jesus and says, "But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” This father is out of options. Jesus is his last resort. "If " you can do anything he says, with the if implying the father's lack of faith. Maybe, thinks the father, just perhaps this man Jesus, this miracle worker that they have heard of, can help them. Help My Unbelief How does Jesus reply? How does our compassionate and loving Savior respond to the father? He says, "“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The father sees an open door before him. A door to possibilities and healing that he wasn't sure even existed. He walks through that door with his despairing cry, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” This father knew his faith was weak so he cried out to Jesus to help him. He could pretend no longer that he had no needs. And Jesus responded by lovingly casting the unclean spirit out of the man's child. Our faith, like the father's is often weak. Sometimes we worry that it isn't enough, but we are not dependent on the quantity of our faith. We are dependent on the source of our faith, our Father. It is not our righteousness but His alone that works to save us in our need. Whether we have great faith or little faith, Jesus loves us. The father in our story also had to humble himself before Jesus. He recognized the power was God's, not his own. He saw his need and confessed it, "help my unbelief". He could pretend to himself and to others no longer that he could do anything to help his child. Only belief, faith, could heal his boy. Good Enough? One of the characters in John Bunyan's beautiful book, Pilgrim's Progress, is called Mr. Fearing. Mr. Fearing comes from the town of Stupidity. Mr. Fearing worries that he is not good enough to obtain Heaven. He feels that he must somehow show God that he is worthy of Heaven. Mr. Fearing doesn't seem to believe Romans 5:8 which says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We will never be perfect enough to reach Heaven. Only Christ, bearing our sins on the cross, could accomplish that. In 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 Paul addresses our weaknesses. "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Whatever our weaknesses are we know that all that is required is God's grace. Our weaknesses require us to acknowledge our need for the grace of God in our life. Without it we are lost. Good Works Result From Grace Mr. Fearing's friend Greatheart reminds him that good works result from grace. Grace does not come from good works. God is truly our Father. We don't have to prove to Him that we are His, but His grace will change our desires. Our desire will be to do good works. Why? Because we love our Father because He first loved us. He who is forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:47). Our response is to want to serve God with all our heart. In Bunyan's book, Mr. Fearing eventually makes his way to Heaven. The amount of his faith was not the issue just as it was not the issue for the father in Mark 9. God will help our unbelief if we ask Him sincerely. When we see our lives for the mess that they are without God, we will cry out to Him. When we do we may still have some doubts, maybe we will not be perfect (that is for sure), maybe we will still have sin that needs confessing, but our Savior is there to guide us. He is a merciful, gracious God who gives blesses us beyond measure. Enjoy the beautiful hymn, Wonderful Merciful Savior by Selah

Understanding Evil in the World Through Scripture Can you see it in the people around you? Can you feel the dismay, unsettledness, and discouragement rising as we watch the news and see the reports seemingly growing worse by the moment? Evil is everywhere. Is finding hope in a world of evil possible when there seems so little we can do about much of it? Scripture does not ignore this question. In fact, the Bible speaks directly to the problem of evil and reminds us that God sees what is happening and will deal with it in His time. There is hope for the depressed in the midst of wickedness. God’s Justice and the Christian Response to Evil And of course we want to ask, "Where is God?" How can this be happening? But God tells us that evil will be punished. If not in this world, then the next. So many people find that an unsatisfactory answer, but our world is contaminated with sin and so it will be until evil is finally destroyed. We are often tempted to take matters into our own hands. Some of us might want to seek revenge on these wrong doers. But Paul explains in Romans 12:19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord." Paul further explains that the way to overcome evil is by doing good to them (Romans 12:21). The Bible also tells us that the presence of evil in the world will not disappear, but will actually increase as history moves forward. Imagine a world where we all did this! When Evil Increases: Why Love Can Grow Cold In fact, Jesus warns us that as we approach the end times, "... because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). The very rise of evil and the feeling that it is everywhere will cause some people to lose their love for others and for God. People feel like nothing matters. They want to give up. But perseverance and steadfast faith are our hope (Matthew 24:13). The faithful and wise servant who is found doing the Master's work when He comes will be blessed (Matthew 24:46). When people constantly see violence, corruption, and selfishness, it becomes easy to grow cynical and stop caring about others. We may even begin to wonder whether doing good makes any difference at all. Scripture recognizes this danger and urges believers not to give in to that discouragement. Paul writes, “Let us not grow weary while doing good” (Galatians 6:9), reminding us that faithfulness matters even when results are not immediately visible. Even if we can only make a difference in one life, it is still worth it. Throughout history Christians have faced this same temptation to become discouraged. During times of plague in the Roman Empire, when many fled from the sick in fear, believers often remained to care for those who were suffering. Their compassion reflected the love Christ commanded, proving that even in a world filled with evil, the love of God does not have to grow cold in the hearts of His people. Signs of the Last Days: Lovers of Self and Rejection of Truth Paul explains in 2 Timothy 3 that as evil increases, instead of loving God, men will become lovers of themselves. When we look honestly at the world around us, Paul's description feels remarkably familiar. Sometimes when I look at social media, all the focus is on my happiness, my good looks, my feelings, my aspirations and it seems we are already there. On X we see endless arguments from people who know they are right about everything. They enjoy starting fights. They only love their own way of thinking. They do not have a teachable spirit as the Word calls it. People reject truth because they have become so distrustful of what they are being told. Paul continues to describe those who don't love God as unthankful, unholy, unloving, without self control, despising good, and loving pleasure instead of God. He describes a world where evil men will grow worse and worse, but what do we do? Paul, speaking to Timothy, says to continue in the Holy Scripture that he learned when he was a child because they "are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). And this faith is for sharing with others. Paul warns Timothy that the time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine. Why? Because they want to hear words that make them feel good about themselves. Sin, repentance, obedience, and sacrifice just don't do it for these people any longer. They have "itching ears" looking for someone who will tell them about God without expecting them to change. They will turn from truth to myths and fables (2 Timothy 4:4). Examples of some of these myths and fables are popular concepts like: "The Law of Attraction", crystals, astrology, reincarnation, channeling, and psychics. None of these require sacrifice of self. The further people remove themselves from God the more evil will abound. As humans, it is in our nature to want to do something about evil. When we see cruelty, injustice, or corruption we want to make things right. Ultimately though, God is the One who will deal with evil completely. He can use nations and individuals to do His will, often without them even knowing who He is. Throughout history He has used people and events to carry out His purposes, as He did with Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1). We must remember we serve a sovereign God and His justice reaches into eternity. The True Source of Evil: The Human Heart And where does this evil come from? Mark 7:21-22 tells us, "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness." This is a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit. This is the kind of heart we all have unless we come to Jesus in saving faith. Before we can be a light to the world for good, our hearts need to change personally. We can worry about bad people and the bad things they do but until we understand that we need to change first we will have no real effect. Romans 3:23 says we have all sinned and all of us have come up short compared to God's glory. If we acknowledge our own sin first, we are better able to recognize the evil in the world and respond to it rightly. Jesus himself warned about this when He told His followers to remove the log from their own eye before correcting others (Matthew 7:3–5). Finding Hope In a World of Evil Finding hope in a world of evil does not mean to turn a blind eye and pretend it doesn't exist. It isn't to stop watching the news completely and just give up. We find hope because, as Christians, we know how the story ends. Revelation tells us that evil will be destroyed once and for all. Until then we are told to live our lives as holy as we know how, depending on God who sustains us by studying His Word and holding fast to His truths. Knowing how the story ends should change how we live right now. We respond to evil with love, we pray for those who live this way. We believe in the power of prayer to change lives and hearts. It may seem insurmountable to us but to God, nothing is impossible. Part of the reason we see so little change in the world is because we have failed to truly believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives. A powerful example of hope and transformation can be seen in the life of a friend of mine. She describes her heart two years ago as being, "black, bitter, abused, rebellious, and revengeful: full of hate and caring about nothing she did or said." Since coming to Christ He has made her hard heart into "putty." Slowly, she's learning to care for people, pray for them, and forgive even those who have wronged her. Some days are tough, and she has to repent and forgive again. As she told me, "That's the whole point of Christianity right? To love God and others as He loves you." It's proof the Holy Spirit can soften any heart and turn bitterness into genuine love. If God can transform her heart, He can transform ours too, no matter how dark the world seems. We can face the day of the Lord with hope. Remember, we are the light in the darkness for a dying world. "Even when evil seems overwhelming, Christians can shine God’s light, respond with love, and trust that He is working—His justice will prevail, and our faithfulness will be rewarded." Yet the story does not end with the darkness we see around us. Even now, God is changing lives in powerful ways to accomplish His work in this world. Don't be overwhelmed by evil. We know who has us in His hands, our faithfulness will be rewarded, and evil will be defeated. Never forget what our Lord tells us in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So be of good cheer no matter what evil comes to you. Finding hope in a world of evil is possible with God.

Unexpected Blessings in Everyday Life Successful surgery, a healthy baby, a safe trip abroad, a salvaged marriage, and safety from a storm, what do all of these things have in common? They are examples of how God often blesses us in spite of our sinfulness and disobedience. We often overlook God's blessings in our life or we take them for granted, not realizing the grace that God has offered us in spite of the fact that we have turned our backs on Him. Our God is a gracious God. God's Ways Are Higher “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 How often do we forgive people who have betrayed us a second or a third chance? How often are we forgiving when someone dismisses us as unnecessary? How often do we bless people who misuse us? For most of us the answer is rarely, maybe never. But God is not like us. God's ways are not our ways. Our gracious God is love, and He is faithful. Over and over God extends hope and faithfulness to His children. "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13 When Blessings Feel Far Away When things are going good, our health is good, our children are safe, our marriage successful or our careers going well, it is easy for us to think that God loves us. But when things go wrong, well then, we often feel abandoned and betrayed by God. The Israelites' Forgetfulness The Israelites wandering in the desert, had seen God's mighty hand part the Red Sea. They had seen God deliver them from the hands of the Egyptians. But when their path became more difficult, as their food began to run out, they cried out for the certainty of their past life. At least in Egypt they had had food to eat. They did not seem to realize that if God had parted the Red Sea, He could certainly and miraculously provide food for them. Which He did provide, Heavenly food, manna, in spite of their whining and complaining. Have we wandered away from God? Have we forgotten His mercy, love and grace? Have we failed to recognize His hand in our lives in spite of the miracles and blessings we have experienced in the past? Even prophets weren't immune to this forgetfulness. Elijah's Despair and God's Gentle Care Even so great a prophet as Elijah had moments of despair and doubt. (I Kings 19) Elijah had just defeated and destroyed the prophets of Baal. The people had proclaimed that the Lord is God. Expecting King Ahab and Jezebel to turn from their wickedness, Elijah was stunned to learn that Jezebel had instead issued a decree that he be hunted down and killed. From the heights of success to now running for his life, Elijah asks God to take his life! (I Kings 19: 4) Elijah seems intent on dying. He runs off into the desert with no food or water and lays down alone. It seems like us, and like the Israelites before him, Elijah had forgotten that God was merciful. He had forgotten how God had miraculously kept him alive during the 3 and 1/2 years of no rain. He had forgotten that he had been delivered bread by ravens when he was hungry. This all while he was obedient to God. So now, disobedient and seemingly suicidal, how would God respond to him? God responds lovingly by sending an angel with food. The angel brings him hot baked bread and water. In spite of his disobedience, he is loved and cared for by God just as we are. Amazingly, Elijah seems not even to be thankful for the blessing provided to him in such an unexpected and glorious way. And still he is blessed by a second angelic meal. This time the angel tells him to eat and drink or he won't be able to make the journey. In fact, Elijah had had no plans for a journey. His plan was to die. Now it seems that God was strengthening him for what was to come. There was a future. This time it would be a 40 day trip to Mt. Horeb (also known as Mt. Sinai). This time Elijah will encounter God Himself in a cave. So like Elijah, even in our despair and disobedience, we can be blessed. The real question is do we see our blessings for what they are? Do we see the hand of God working in our lives in the dark days? Do we realize that even when we are depressed, to the point of wanting to die, that God can reach out to us in unexpected ways? Do we remember His love? God will provide. Lessons for Us Today: Our Gracious God As we read these stories in the Old Testament, remember 1 Corinthians 10:11 "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." An admonition is a friendly warning. Don't let despair get the best of you. Don't forget the gracious, forgiving nature of our Father. God's abundant blessings are there—we just need to recognize them. God gives grace even when we are faithless because our gracious God loves us so. "Gracious Jesus" Grace to me was offered freely Though I strayed and often sinned. Christ's forgiving loving nature In His word to me He penned. Oft was I in sorrow sinking, Oft forgetting who I served, Yet he offered me forgiveness Even if twas undeserved. On the mountain, in the valley There He is beside me still. Taking all my burdens freely As He walked up to that hill. On that cross His life was given, For the world to come to Him. Let me not forget that blessing, Let me always run to Him. --Carol Plafcan

Glorifying God in Our Faith and Tribulations What things do you glory in? That's not a widely used expression today. To glory in something means to feel great pleasure or joy because of something. Maybe you glory in your favorite team winning the Super Bowl or winning an exceptionally difficult video game match. In Romans 5:1-5, Paul explains what he glories in. He tells us our faith has justified us before God and because of this we have peace with God. No longer are we at war with our Savior, no longer are we His enemy. Because of our faith in Jesus we have gained access to grace and "we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." We are now people who rejoice in glorifying God because we have been transformed from enemies to beloved children. Paul adds that we also glory in tribulations. What an odd thing to say. What Paul means is that we don't find pleasure in enduring bad things for the sake of those things, but when we endure trials and tribulations because of Christ, for His sake, that is when we can glory in them. Tribulation endured often helps transform people. He explains that this is so because these tribulations, these hard times, produce the fruit of perseverance or endurance. To persevere means to continue on in the same course of action even in the face of great difficulty. In Hebrews 10:36, we are told that we have a need for endurance, "so that after we have done the will of God, you may receive the promise." We learn to totally trust in Jesus and desire His will. We learn to run our race with endurance. By persevering we produce character. Character is the trait that should distinguish us as Christians. Do we choose good over evil? Do we love as Christ did? And finally, he says, these traits produce a hope that does not disappoint. A hope that says we will live with Christ forever. He says this is true because the Holy Spirit has filled our hearts with the love of God. Now we can glorify God because we have changed from enemies to His beloved. Glorifying God: From Enemies to Beloved Children The Christian life is full of contrasts from our life before: hope v no hope, love v hatred, peace v fear and anxiety, justification v judgment, friends with God v adversaries of God. Does the world seem unjust to you? Without faith and belief we can't understand the world we live in. The world of fear and anxiety, judgment and hate simply has no hope. That world can't understand what evil really is and how God is a God of transformation, a God who brings hope out of darkness, a God who becomes my beloved friend and not my enemy. To look in the mirror and admit, this unjust world is because of my sin, is hard. Our faith has brought us to this wonderful place where we have peace with God, we have been justified, received grace, and we can rejoice. As Billy Graham once said, “Faith literally means ‘to give up, surrender, or commit.’ Faith is complete confidence.” And in whom does our confidence lie? To whom do we surrender? Jesus Christ! Before Faith: Our Fallen State But what about before? Before we had all this, before we had faith and peace with God what did we have? In Romans 8:7-9, Paul explains what we were like. He explains that the carnal mind is enmity against God. Enmity is the opposite of peace. It is a hatred, an antagonism, of things pertaining to God. To be carnal is to be concerned with things of the flesh, sinful actions or desires. When we were like this it was impossible to please God. James 4:4 agrees with this. Here James tells us, "...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." This is what we were like, enemies of God and instead, friends of the world. We don't often think of non-Christians as enemies of God. Before we became a Christian, it is unlikely that you ever thought of yourself as an enemy of God. Colossians 1:21 says that our evil behavior caused us to be enemies in our minds. Proverbs 15:26 tells us that God hates the thoughts of the wicked. Paul explains in Romans 12:2 that it is God that must renew our minds so we can think thoughts that are good. We may have talked like we weren't an enemy but our actions said something different. It is only through Christ that we can be reconciled to God. In other words, our faith in Jesus restores our broken relationship with God. We glorify God when we are renewed and transformed from enemies to beloved children. We Must Be Renewed Our faith caused us to go from being an adversary of God to being His child and a friend. Before this we had no great joy, no "glory in hope." Instead of glorying in tribulation, rejoicing in suffering for Christ, we may have been the one causing Christians to endure hardship. As a beloved child, however, we now have a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Our job is to show the world the love and the hope that God has placed in our hearts. The world should be able to see the transformation God has done in us. How to Treat the Enemies of God How should we treat the enemies of God? Jesus is our role model. When Jesus suffered at the hands of his enemies He did not strike back. He did not curse them or even complain. He trusted the One who would judge them justly for their sins. 2 Timothy 4:1 says that Jesus Himself will judge the living and the dead when He returns. Psalm 92:9 tells us the fate of God's enemies. They will perish and all evil doers will be scattered. Grace Through Unmerited Mercy Yet grace is offered to the world in spite of our evil hearts. In the song, Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord by Julia Johnston (1910), the refrain goes like this: Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin! No matter how evil our hearts were or are, God offers His grace. Grace is undeserved mercy. From death to life, God's grace forever changes us. None of us can say that we were saved because we deserved to be. Just as a murderer waiting for execution receives a stay of execution at the very last moment—not because he was worthy, but because someone offered him undeserved mercy—we too have been given grace greater than all our sin. As her song continues, she says this grace is "freely bestowed on all who believe." We glorify God for this grace we have received. The Call to Faith and Commitment Do you believe? Do you have faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen." Do you long to have the character of a true loving Christian and the hope that only comes from belief in Jesus Christ? If so, ask Him, seek Him. He offers boundless grace that pardons even those who hate Him. Then, you too, can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Then we can live glorifying the God who has turned us from enemies to beloved children.

Abraham Knows God Will Provide The first time we hear the expression, "God will provide", is in Genesis 22:8. Isaac asks his father where is the lamb for sacrifice and Abraham replies, "And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Most of us know the story. Abraham is about to plunge the knife into Isaac when the Angel of the Lord stopped him. The Lord himself did provide a sacrifice that day; and many, many years later God provided the ultimate sacrifice for you and I on that same hill, Jesus, His only Son. Abraham Blessed Abraham passed the ultimate test of faithfulness and obedience. He knew God had promised that his descendants would come through Isaac and he trusted God that no matter what happened that promise would be fulfilled. Abraham was blessed because of his obedience. In Genesis 22:18 we are told that all nations would be blessed through his offspring. The Bible tells us over and over that God has promised to provide for us when we are obedient and faithful. He provides for those who love Him. What are some ways that God provides? The Psalms Speak of God's Provision The beginning of beautiful Psalm 23, that many of us know by heart, reminds us that our shepherd is the Lord and because of this we will not have want. Psalm 34:10 explains that those who seek God don't lack anything good. And again, in Psalm 84:11, we learn that God doesn't withhold good from those who live an upright life. In Psalm 91:2 we read that God provides a refuge and a fortress for those who dwell in Him. Are you hurting, emotionally or physically? Run to Him! Jesus Speaks of God's Provision In Matthew 6: 25-34, Jesus tells us do not worry about tomorrow. He explains that the birds are watched over by God and how much more valuable each of us is to Him than they are. Our Lord tells us in Matthew 7:11 that He will give good things to us if we ask Him because God is our loving Father. Jesus says He provides rest to the weary (Matthew 11:29-30). He wants us to be free from the cares of this world. He wants us to rest in Him, to trust Him in every circumstance. Jesus explains that if we abide in Christ and His words in us, then whatever we wish will be provided to us (John 15:7). If we live in Him, our will, and His, will be the same. We won't ask wrongly. God's Provision -Peace, Rewards, A Way of Escape Philippians 4:7 speaks of God providing a peace that passes understanding and that our hearts and minds will be guarded by that peace. Jesus is the Lord of peace. How often in today's world are we worried, troubled by terrible news? Only God can give a perfect peace at times in our lives when it seems impossible to be at peace. Paul tells the church at Philippi that God will provide all their needs (Philippians 4:19). Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we are rewarded when we seek Him. When we seek God, He gives us the ultimate reward - eternal life! 1 Corinthians 10:13 explains that when we are tempted God provides a way of escape. This provision will save us from much heart ache and sorrow that comes from disobedience and sin. Provision So We Can Be Generous When we trust that God will provide our needs, we will be more generous to others. When we trust God to provide our needs, we will be more satisfied with what we have. It is important to discern a need from a want. If our brother or sister in Christ is struggling to find food or shelter, we should generously provide for them because we know that sharing the blessings of God is expected. God's provision for you may come from others who will share what they have with you (2 Corinthians 9:8-9). Provision Beyond Our Expectations God's provision isn't just limited to what we can imagine or what we pray for. God's provision is sometimes beyond anything we can even imagine. According to Ephesians 3:20, " Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," Have you seen God provide in your life over and above anything you asked of Him? Have you been in awe of some of the things you have seen God do in other people's life? Don't be blind to the actions of God around you. See His hand at work in your life to provide for you in ways you never expected. See the actions of a loving Father and with Paul be able to say, "to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:21 Enjoy this powerful message through song, God Will Provide! God's Provision

When We Are Desperate How Do We Respond? Desperate people will do anything to find what they need. If you were in the desert without water, baking under the sun, you would crawl on your hands and knees to find water and survive. If my child is sick, I will do everything in my power to find healing for them. I will go to every doctor, every hospital until I find someone that can help. In the Old Testament there are many stories of people who were desperate for God, who cried out to Him from the depths of despair. The New Testament also shares many stories of people who were desperate for the spiritual and physical healing that only Jesus could give. Desperation for God: Old Testament Examples How desperate are we for God? Are our prayers half-hearted or are we praying with the desperation of a dying man? Do we seek God with all that is within us? Do we know that God answers the humble prayer of faith? As we are told in 1 John 5: 14, we can have confidence that when we pray the will of God He will hear us. In Psalm 18: 4-6, David cries out to God in desperation. This is what he says, "The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears." David feared for his life. He was distressed by the level of ungodliness that he had seen. Distressed and desperate he cried out to God and God heard him. This psalm was a song of gratitude and thankfulness that God heard his pain and delivered him from his enemies and from Saul. He would sing a similar song at the end of his life in 2 Samuel 22. Crying Out to God: The Story of Habakkuk The book of Habakkuk finds the prophet questioning why violence, sin and strife continues. He is desperate to understand why God would allow such things to go on. God explains that the righteous live by faith and the wicked will be punished. In the end, Habakkuk is given a vision of hope. Habakkuk's response is to rejoice in the Lord even though things may be bad around him (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Praying in Desperation: King Hezekiah’s Plea In Isaiah 37, King Hezekiah hears the plans of the King of Assyria to destroy Israel and desperately pleads with God to save his nation from the hands of the great army of the Assyrians. God tells Hezekiah, ‘Because you have prayed to Me, I will deliver Israel from the Assyrians", which He does in a miraculous way. Desperate for Jesus: The Gentile Woman In Mark 7: 24-37, we read the story of a gentile woman who approaches Jesus with great humility, faith and desperation. She begs for him to cast a demon out of her child. Jesus recognizes her need, desperation, and humbleness and tells her that her daughter is healed. Seeking Jesus: Zacchaeus’ Story In Luke 19: 1-10, we read about Zacchaeus, so desperate to see Jesus that he climbed up into a tree just to be able to see Him. Jesus looks up and announces to everyone that that day he would go have dinner at Zacchaeus' home. The despised tax collector would dine with Jesus! Zacchaeus confessed his sins and Jesus tells him that "salvation has come to his house that day" because Jesus "came to seek and to save that which was lost". Reaching for Healing: The Woman with the Issue of Blood In Luke 8: 43-48, Jesus heals a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. She had spent all her money on doctors but no one could help her. Hearing that Jesus would be in town she went out among the crowd, even though she was unclean and not supposed to be around people. She dared, in desperation, to just touch the hem of his robe. She must have been weak from years of lost blood. Perhaps she crawled through the crowd to touch the hem of His garment. She risked her own safety to be among the crowd because of her uncleanness. She had total faith that just by touching his clothes she would be healed and she was. Overcoming fear and finding faith takes courage. Conclusion: How Desperate Are We? What blessings are in store for us if we seek God with our whole heart, crying out to Him in desperation with faith and humility that He will hear our prayer? Do we casually pray for our family and loved ones, do we briefly mention them in a hurried prayer, or do we long with all our heart for an answer to a prayer that means the world to us. Is our prayer effectual? How desperate are we for Jesus? I leave you with the hope of Psalm 65: 5. "You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,"

Why Were Animals Sacrificed? The Old Testament mentions sacrifice as early as the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis. Why was sacrifice necessary? Animal sacrifice was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The lamb sacrificed at Passover had to be without spot or blemish. This sacrifice showed that we alone could never approach God. There had to be a perfect substitute made for us. The sacrifice was costly, something not to be taken lightly. A Shadow of the Good Things to Come And yet these animal sacrifices were but a shadow "of the good things to come" as we read in Hebrews 10:1, "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." The Insufficiency of Animal Sacrifices Animal sacrifices were not sufficient. They could not perfect the ones who sacrificed it. As Hebrews 10:4 says the sacrifice of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. How do we dare approach the throne of a holy God? How can we see Heaven? In Acts 4:12, Peter tells us that there is no salvation except through the blood of Christ. He is our perfect atonement. Atonement is reconciliation with God. Jesus reconciles us to God in a way no animal ever could. In Leviticus 17:11 we are told, "it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." Jesus: The Perfect Atonement Because of this perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made for us we can approach the throne, knowing that He is worthy. In John's visions in Revelation 5 a scroll containing judgment is sealed and an angel cries out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll?" When no one is found, John begins to cry until one of the elders that stands before the throne of God tells him that One has been found, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." (Revelation 5:5) Then John sees a lamb, "as though it had been slain", take the scroll. Then those in Heaven cried out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12 The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed! And He alone is worthy! Thanks be to God. He alone can judge sin on the earth. How can He do this? Jesus did this by becoming our sacrificial Lamb, our perfect sacrifice, and our atonement. Jesus is our High Priest. Every Creature Acknowledges Worthy is the Lamb What is more amazing is that it is not just those in Heaven who acknowledge this but we read in Revelation 5:13 that "every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them" will acknowledge this. Every creature! The atheist, the agnostic, the unrepentant, the animals, every creature will say to the Lamb "blessing and honor and glory and power." All God's creation praises Him. The Blood of Christ Satisfies and Redeems We have been redeemed by Christ, bought with a price, the death on the cross of God's very Son. God Himself set forth Jesus "as a propitiation by His blood, through faith"(Romans 3:25). Propitiation means satisfying, meaning that the blood of Christ satisfies God's anger and judgment towards sin through our faith in Him. Our redemption can only come from Jesus. No one is worthy but our Lord. Even now we can say, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain", we can lift our voices in praise for the One who died for us, the One who made a way when there was no way. The preciousness of God's people is seen when we realize He gave His only Son that we might have life. Hallelujah! Enjoy "Worthy is the Lamb" sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

Marriage as a Covenant Before God Today we don't often talk about marriage as a covenant, but biblically, marriage is not just between a husband and wife, but also God. This covenant relationship, like all biblical covenants, is significant because it causes two individuals to become "one flesh" as the Bible describes in Matthew 19:4-6. Vows are taken before God. Covenant marriage is an unconditional and sacrificial relationship. In this relationship the man is required to love his wife as Christ loved and gave Himself for His people. In fact, in Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul says no less than three times that the husband should love his wife. The woman is to respect and submit to her husband. They both must submit to God. This commitment is for life. This covenant picture is not just seen in human relationships. Scripture uses it to describe how God relates to His people. God’s Design from the Beginning From the beginning God intended us to look at the institution of marriage and see a mirror of what our relationship with God should be like. In Genesis, God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve and one day we will walk the streets of Heaven with Him again. Adam and Eve, though they were two individual people, became one in heart. This covenant relationship is one that God will not break, although people often break faith with Him through disobedience and unfaithfulness. That design did not disappear after the fall. It continues to shape how God reveals Himself throughout Scripture. From Forsaken to Beulah and God's Delight Isaiah 62:4 describes a time to come when Israel's commitment to God will be total. It will be a renewed covenant of faithfulness. "You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the Lord delights in you, And your land shall be married." The name, Hephzibah means "My delight is in her" and the land named Beulah means married. In this verse Isaiah is describing Israel in exile in Babylon. She was a forsaken people and her land was desolate. But in the future, the Lord would find His delight in her again, and Israel would be restored as Beulah, once more living in covenant joy and fellowship with her God. Beulah is not merely a poetic picture of heaven, but covenant marriage language that reveals God’s desire for restored intimacy, faithfulness, and eternal union with His people. This promise of restoration is not the end of the story. It points forward to something greater. This language of delight is not limited to Isaiah. It appears throughout Scripture as God describes His relationship with His people. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God "will rejoice over you with gladness." In Psalm 18:19 the psalmist announces that God rescued him because "He delighted in me." And in Psalm 149:4 we read, "For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation." Is God finding delight in you? Has He "adorned" you with His salvation? It isn't too late to make Jesus your Savior. These beautiful pictures of God’s delight aren’t just beautiful poetry—they find their fullest expression in the New Testament. Christ the Bridegroom and His Church We see this same imagery repeated in the New Testament between God and His people. Christ is described as our bridegroom and the church is His bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). As believers we still wait for this day in faithful anticipation. Much like in Jesus day faithfulness was required during the betrothal period prior to a wedding where the bride and groom remained separated until their wedding day. Although not yet united forever, with Jesus we remain His faithful betrothed until the day comes when we will join Him in eternity (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-2). The church as Christ's bride is not any one particular denomination, but any Christian anywhere who ever believed in Jesus as their Savior. In Mark 2:19-20 Christ specifically refers to Himself as the bridegroom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 reminds us that the oil of the Spirit helps us stay prepared for the bridegroom's return. We never know when that may happen. Jesus painted an even clearer picture of this in the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14). The Parable of the Wedding Feast When the guests who were initially invited to the wedding feast refused to come, the banquet was then opened to all. But still only those with the proper attire could come in. So what does this all mean? The guests who were initially invited but refused are the Jewish leaders who rejected the Good News of Jesus as the Messiah. Although the invitation then goes out to all, meaning Jews or Gentiles, they still had to have the proper clothing. This means they must be clothed with Christ and His righteousness. Their own righteousness was like filthy rags. They couldn't attend a wedding dressed like that. So even though all were invited, they must choose the righteousness of God and not their own to gain entry. Are your garments washed white as snow in the blood of the Lamb? How does God describe this relationship with Him? God doesn’t just invite us—He provides everything we need to come. And when we come clothed in Christ, we discover the kind of joyful, intimate relationship He’s always desired with us The Relationship God Desires If you have ever attended a wedding, or been married, you know the bridegroom delighted in his beautiful bride. It was one of his happiest days. He rejoiced seeing her come down the aisle to forever walk by his side. God feels the same when He speaks of us, both individually and as a whole church. Scripture even gives us an extended picture of this kind of love. We have an entire book of the Bible devoted to the physical and spiritual nature of marriage. In the Song of Solomon, according to the Gospel Coalition, "The Song of Songs serves as a beautiful reminder that a godly marriage reflects the Lord’s passionate love for his own people." This book explores what marital intimacy looks like between two passionately committed people. God wants nothing less than the same faithful commitment in the covenant relationship with His bride, the church. The type of relationship that God wants with us is intimate because His will becomes ours. He doesn't want blind obligated devotion. He wants us to cherish Him as He cherishes us. His love is what we are transformed into. His home will be ours. Christ delights in His own and calls their land Beulah (married). As we long for that day, we sometimes stumble in our faithfulness, just as Israel did. Longing, Failure, and the Hope of Beulah Land As a bridegroom longs for the day when he can marry his bride and live together with her, we find ourselves longing for the time when we will be joined eternally to God. We don't know when or for how long we must wait but eventually, if we belong to Jesus, we will enjoy an unbreakable covenant relationship forever. But while we wait, there are times when we are sadly unfaithful to Him. We sometimes turn our back and return to the world from which He drew us out. But He stands waiting patiently, with open arms welcoming us home like the Prodigal Son's father. When we repent and seek Him, He will be found. He is an ever present help in times of trouble. A loving father who wants His children to be obedient to Him for their own good. This obedience is born from love. A love that was willing to sacrifice His own Son for us. He can restore our desolate lives, no matter how bad they may be, and give us hope. This is not new. It is how God has always dealt with His people. Isaiah 54:5 describes God’s relationship to Israel as that of a husband to his bride, and in Hosea 2:19–20 God promises to betroth Himself to Israel forever. The restoration and renewal that God promises are found again in 2 Corinthians 5:17, where Paul tells us we are a new creation in Christ. And one day that restoration will be complete. Revelation 21:2 compares the New Jerusalem to a bride dressed beautifully for her husband. Even though we may fail at times we can still find hope in the certainty of God’s promise and the new covenant we have in Jesus Christ. The land He calls us to is a home He has prepared for us with tender, loving mercy. He goes to prepare a place for us so that we can live with Him when He returns for his bride (John 14:2-6). This place, this beautiful, eternal "Beulah Land"... O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land, As on thy highest mount I stand, I look away across the sea, Where mansions are prepared for me, And view the shining glory shore, My Heav’n, my home forevermore! (Edgar Page 1876)

Going it Alone Are you familiar with the expression, "Going it alone"? Have you ever decided you just don't need other people, or maybe you just don't like other people? Sometimes we seem to think they create more problems than they offer benefits. As Christians, do we sometimes think we can also "go it alone"? Do we think, "Well I have Jesus, so I don't really need other Christians"? Family of God It is true that as a Christian we are never truly alone. The Holy Spirit lives in us. God promises to always be there for us. So why do we need others? The Bible tells us clearly that faith is not lived alone. As part of the body of Christ we can't separate ourselves from other members of the body and be successful Christians. We are a part of the family of God. As far back as Deuteronomy 31:12-13 the Lord instructed his servants to gather together. Why? First, to learn about their Lord. Secondly, to fear the Lord. Last, to observe His commands, in other words, to be obedient. These instructions, we are told, were especially important for children. Remember Him and Be Devoted In Matthew 18:20 Jesus tells us that whenever two or more are gathered in His name, He is there. Surely, we want to be in a place where we know without a doubt that Jesus is. At the Last Supper Jesus instituted communion. This sharing of His body was to be done together with other Christians. Jesus says it should be done to "remember Him" (Luke 22: 19-20). This was not something that Christians ever did alone. In Acts 2:42 the young church is described as being unified by devoting themselves to learning more about Jesus, breaking bread together (sharing communion) and praying. The church, as a whole, was being strengthened to face the trials that would come to them in the world. Paul, in Ephesians 4:1-3, asks the church to bear with one another in love as we try to maintain a spirit of unity in peace. If I could worship all alone this wouldn't be so important. Teach, Admonish and Comfort Each Other Colossians 3:16 tells us to teach and admonish one another. Admonish in the Bible means to warn someone in a loving way. We can't be taught or admonished if we don't gather together. The way that we should do these things, Paul tells the church, is with the singing of the Psalms (from the book of Psalms), hymns which praise or honor God and with spiritual songs - songs that deal with spiritual ideas such as salvation or grace to name just a few. This is why we sing praise. All of this is to be done with grace. This is how we grow our faith—together. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us to comfort and build each other up. You can't do this alone. We need to be with other Christians. We need to communicate and teach, warn and comfort, pray and sing as a body of believers. Of course we can watch wonderful sermons on our televisions. Of course we can pray for others alone in our home. Of course we can listen to wonderful Christian music with no one around, but the Bible makes it very, very clear that we are mainly to do these things with other Christians. Our Family Has a Purpose Psychologists tell us that being part of a group, belonging to something, brings happiness. Family is important for this very reason. We have a need to matter to other humans. This need is fulfilled perfectly when we belong to Christ. God says before you were born you mattered to Him. We have a common purpose, to share the love of Christ to others and to tell them what He has done for us. We assemble together, Hebrews 10:25 tells us, so that we can exhort each other. This simply means that we are to encourage one another. This life is hard. The Christian life can be hard. We need encouragement, prayer and teaching. We need to share our experiences of the Lord's blessings in our lives. What greater way to be encouraged than to hear how God has worked in the life of another believer? Let's Not Go It Alone Of course there are times, sadly, when we really can't meet together, but it is so incredibly important that we see the need for fellowship with one another when we have the opportunity. Who knows if we will always be able to meet as easily as we do now? Let us pray that our Father will place the desire in the hearts of those who have decided to "go it alone" to once again join with the family of God and praise His holy name. Enjoy this beautiful hymn, "The Family of God" here. The Family of God

What Does God Expect? What does God expect for us as Christians to do? According to our Lord we should be loving God first and then those around us (Matthew 22: 37-39). We should be working towards being more like Christ and less like the world. What does that practically mean though? We are told in Micah 6: 6-8 that God's expectations are for us to treat others justly, to love mercy and to be a humble people. The People Fail to Obey In the book of Haggai we read about the failure of the Jewish people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem as they had been told by God to do. Returning to Jerusalem they had been busy rebuilding their own homes and lives but had failed to rebuild the temple. Haggai tells the people that even though they had planted much they reaped little. He says their food and water did not meet their needs and even though they worked hard their money never went far enough (Haggai 1:6). Why? Because they had been disobedient, God's judgment was on them. The Temple Rebuilt God had ordered a drought - not just of water but of food and livestock and "all the labor of your hands" (Haggai 1:11). The people could no longer put off the will of God. They couldn't delay out of fear for what other nations might do to them; they couldn't place their own needs ahead of God's commands. They could not continue in their fear. And so, they built, once again, a great temple to the Lord as they were instructed to do. This temple was the very same temple that our Lord entered as a baby. The same temple that Jesus taught in as a young boy. The same temple where He threw over the money changer's tables. Had the people of Haggai's time not listened to God there would not have been a second temple. How Are We Doing? When we look at our own lives how are we doing? Are we obeying God? Do we treat others justly? Are we merciful as mercy was shown to us? Are we humble? Do we love God with all our might? Do we love others as He has loved us? How Can We Be Obedient? We show justice when we are honest with others, when we show others respect and when we stand up for what is right. We can show mercy in a multitude of ways. We can show mercy by being kind to those who are unkind; by sharing what we have with others and by being forgiving and compassionate. We show humility by serving others, by admitting our mistakes, by truly listening to people, by not desiring to be the center of attention. One of the best ways to show humility is not to brag on ourselves. We don't have to trumpet our accomplishments to people. God is With Us There may be specific things that the Lord wants us to do. Maybe we haven't done them because we thought we should do other things first. Like the people of Haggai's time, maybe we are building our own house first. Maybe we haven't been obedient because we were afraid to do what we know God wants us to do. Many times God expects us to move out of our comfort zone. He expects us to do this because He is always with us. There is nothing we have to fear because He is by our side. We shouldn't question why God asks us to do something, we should just do it. God blesses the obedient. Obedience and the way of truth brings us closer to Him. Who Do We Love? It is easy sometimes to believe that we are loving. But who do we love? Is it those who love us? Is it those who are always grateful for our love? Jesus says in Matthew 5: 46-47 that anyone does that - even the hated tax collectors. We are to love our enemies. We are to love the neighbor who gossips about us, the coworker who tells lies to the boss about us, the young person who treats us disrespectfully or the old person who disregards anything we have to say. Our Purpose We may not be called to build a great temple to the Lord, but each of us has a purpose; each of us has a calling. But what is our purpose? The Lord's expectations are high. The reason is because we have Him to be with us to help us to be just, merciful, humble and above all, loving. Before we blame the world, the non-Christian, for all the bad things we see around us we should look inside ourselves. Are we doing all we can to show Christ to a lost and dying world? Thy Will Be Done The Lord taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10). Our prayer each day should be to seek His will and do it. We can start by showing love whenever we have the opportunity. We don't have to fear, even when persecution comes, because doing His will is why we are here. Be blessed with the song "God's Will" by Martina McBride here. What God Expects

Are We a People of Courage? Are we a people of courage? When we are placed in difficult positions do we choose the easy way or the right way? In Daniel 6 we see the story of a great king who was in such a position. Was he able to admit he made a mistake and make the right decision? Most of us have heard the story of Daniel in the lions’ den many times. We usually focus on Daniel’s great faith and courage. But today I want to look at this story from a different angle. What if the real lesson is not about Daniel’s bravery, but about a king’s failure? A powerful man who did not have the courage to admit mistakes and refused to correct them. This story has as much to say about our pride and lack of courage as it does about Daniel’s faithfulness. Who Was Daniel? First, who was Daniel? Daniel was an important Old Testament prophet and an official under Babylonian and Persian rulers. He was taken into captivity to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar II as a young man. He was well known for his ability to interpret dreams and his unwavering loyalty to God and his Jewish faith. Other officials became jealous of his power and plotted against him to have him killed. These officials, who knew that Daniel prayed three times daily to God, came to King Darius and asked him to sign into law a decree " that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions " (Daniel 6:7). This was a law that, once signed, traditionally could never be changed. They knew they would be able to set up Daniel in this way because they knew his faithfulness to God. Indeed shortly after the king signed the decree they came to him announcing that Daniel must die. They told Darius that Daniel had prayed to his God in defiance of the decree. When King Darius heard this, he was deeply upset. He valued Daniel. He did not want to see him die. He searched desperately for a way out, but the law of the Medes and Persians could not be changed. Darius, like you and I at times was, leaning on his own understanding . If only he had been courageous enough to admit his mistake. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Have we today faced situations of our own making that we later realized were mistakes but were unable to correct them? Admitting our mistakes felt too humbling. Darius knew he had created the mess that Daniel was in but he still let him go to his death rather than go back on his own law. A King Caught in His Own Trap When Darius approached Daniel he encouraged him that his God would deliver him from the lions. Darius was no Jew. His god was not Daniel's God, but he knew the faithfulness of Daniel and in those times the belief was that whoever you worshiped, as long as you were faithful, that god would be able to save you. Yet even in his weakness and fear, the king still showed a spark of respect for Daniel’s God. Have you known non-believers who have encouraged you to pray, even though they do not themselves? Some non-believers have watched God work in other people’s lives. Yet they have no faith He can work in their own. Sadly, many feel they must be ‘good enough’ first. Others once believed—but they drifted so far they can barely remember why they ever trusted Him. Back in the palace, King Darius was discovering just how heavy his own mistake had become. That night the king could not eat. He could not sleep. No musicians were called to play. One question haunted him: What would happen if Daniel’s God actually saved him? Would that powerful God turn on the king who had thrown His servant into the lions’ den? We can't know for certain what questions kept Darius up. We do know that first thing in the morning Darius returns to the lion's den to see if Daniel might still be alive. Scripture says he cried out to Daniel with a " lamenting voice ." To lament something is a passionate cry of grief or sorrow. He thought Daniel was dead and was very distraught. The king asked Daniel " has your God been able to deliver you? " (Daniel 6:20). Your non-Christian friends don't want bad things to happen to you. They feel sorrow when they hear you are dealing with a great loss of some kind. But in their hearts they may wonder if your God can deliver you. When God does deliver you, do you give glory to Him and let your non-Christian friends know that you praise Him for your deliverance? Or when God gives you peace to deal with loss do you share that with your non-believing friends? Giving praise to God is an easy way to witness to others. Morning at the Lion’s Den Much to the king's delight Daniel answers him! Daniel tells the king, "...“ O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you. ” "(Daniel 6:21-22). The first thing out of Daniel's mouth was to give praise to the man who had signed his death decree. He tells the king to " live forever ." He is not harboring resentment or anger toward King Darius. In that moment, Daniel showed the power of a forgiving heart. He is practicing what Jesus tells us to do, forgive. Even in the face of death, Daniel chose forgiveness. The first thing out of his mouth was not complaint, but grace. He escaped the lions because God had found him innocent and he had done no wrong to the king. They took him out of the lion's den and found no harm had come to him. Why? Because Daniel believed in his God (Daniel 6:23). In the darkest night, Daniel discovered that joy comes in the morning . Daniel knew His God was bigger than whatever situation he found himself in. He trusted God. Do we, in bad times, do the same? Or do we let our circumstances overwhelm us? The King’s Harsh Justice and His Proclamation When the king realized that all of what happened had been engineered to kill Daniel, Darius brought the accusers and their families and threw them to the lions. Today we view this punishment as barbaric. However, in those times it was common practice that entire families would be wiped out for the sin of the father. This was not God's moral standard. Do our mistakes sometimes harm people in ways we can't imagine? Then Darius makes his famous announcement. He tells the people of Babylon and all of Persia that they should show fear before Daniel's God. He announces that Daniel's God is living, steadfast, and His kingdom will never be destroyed. Darius tells his kingdom that God is a deliverer, a rescuer, a worker of signs and wonders, and that it was his God who delivered Daniel from the lions. But what kind of faith was this really? We are tempted to believe that Darius became a believer in the one true God. However, it is much more likely that he really just wanted his subjects to know that God was one of many gods who could be rightfully worshipped. The Persians were known for treating other religions with respect. Darius was "covering his bases" as we would say today. He might not have believed personally in the God of the Jews, but he would allow His worship to go on in his kingdom. Don't be fooled when non-Christians show respect to the Christian faith. This doesn't automatically mean they are Christian. It just means they acknowledge your right to believe. We would do well to remember this in today's world when many people claim faith in God, but they don't really believe. Their God might be the god of many religions, not the one true God. The Real Story: A King Without Courage to Admit Mistakes When you read the account of Daniel in the lion's den you quickly realize that the story is as much about the king and his failure as it is about Daniel. It is also very much about God's sovereignty. Daniel was never surprised that he was saved from the lion's mouths. The king was a weak man. But the mercy of God was greater than the king’s weakness. He, like some who came after him—Pilate or Judas, could not admit his mistakes. Even though Daniel didn't die, many people ended up destroyed by the lions because Darius would not step up and do the right thing. Daniel walked out alive, but the cost of one man’s lack of courage was still enormous. One man’s failure to be courageous affected far more lives than just his own. Courage is a rare commodity. Many people claim to be courageous, or like to think they would be, but in the face of opposition they cave in and refuse to stand for what is right. Which are we? What is more important to us, saving face or making the hard choices?