Not a Safe Lion
Theme of the Week: Both Kind and Stern
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Key Bible Verse: "And now about these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in my presence" (Luke 19:27). Bonus Reading: Hosea 6:1-3; 11:9-10
When my oldest son Karsten was about eight, we visited a man who owned a huge dog. When we opened the door, the dog looked at my son almost eye to eye. That's a fearful prospect for a little boy. But we were assured the dog was harmless and really liked children. After a while we sent Karsten to the car to get something. As he ran across the yard, the dog gave a deep growl and loped up behind him. The owner leaned out the door and called to Karsten, "You'd better just walk; he doesn't like it when people run away from him."
A huge dog that loves children but doesn't like people to run away from him is what God is like. If we will trust him and enjoy him and throw our arms around his strong neck, he'll be everything we ever hoped for in a friend. But if we decide that there are other things we want more than him and turn to run away, he'll get very angry. Jesus said this as clearly as we could wish in [today's Key Bible Verse]. Fearing God means fearing the terrible prospect of running away from the merciful, all-providing, all-satisfying reign of King Jesus.
—John Piper in What Jesus Demands from the World
My Response: Why is running from God's mercy so hazardous?
Thought to Apply: "Safe? … Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King." —Mr. Beaver (in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe)
Adapted from What Jesus Demands from the World (Crossway, 2006) by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Deliver me, God, from an easy familiarity that fails to recognize Your overwhelming power and hatred of sin.
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