All Love Is Not Equal

In our day the concept of love has lost most of its significance. We use the word in such mundane ways. We might say, "I love chocolate" or "I love that TV show" and not really include any commitment at all. William Shakespeare said, "Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds." When our love is so easily transferred from one object to another and diluted by whatever circumstances may come up it is not really love.

Following the breakfast served by Jesus in John 21:9-13 a conversation ensued between Peter and Jesus about love. Peter must have been surprised that Jesus would question his love, but three times Jesus asked him, "Do you love Me?" Three times Peter answered, "Lord, you know that I love You." The problem lies in the form of the word love used by Peter compared with the form used by Jesus. The first two times Jesus spoke of a self-sacrificing love (agape in Greek). Each time Peter affirmed a friendship love (phileo in Greek). Peter was stunned when the third time Jesus finally used the friendship form of the word.

Jesus demonstrated the self-sacrificing form of love for us on the cross. He in turn asks us to demonstrate that same kind of love for him. So often we are like Peter and just think about a friendship with Jesus rather than the concept of sacrificial sevanthood. Today, let us each look for ways we can express our love for Jesus by willing service.

Fishing Lessons

I have never been much of an outdoors person. Having never gone fishing in my life, I was still assigned to be the fishing instructor at a children's camp one summer. I had to depend on a book on fish with pictures to be able to identify the fish that the kids caught. Later as a young adult I only remember one occasion when I went fishing. My brother-in-law and I left early in the morning and dragged our boat from the roadside through a little creek into the lake. There we sat for hours and I caught nothing. At that point I guess I could identify with Peter and some of the disciples who had chosen to go fishing after Jesus' resurrection.

According to John 21:3 "that night they caught nothing." How discouraged they must have been. And then, to add embarrassment to their failure as fisherman Jesus came along and said, "Children, have you any food?" How often we experience the same feelings when Jesus questions us about our efforts. The problem is that we fail to realize that we need to depend on him in all things. Scripture tells us that we are co-laborers together with God. Jesus then gave them the instruction "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." Now that must have sounded rather simple to the fishermen. What difference would fishing on the other side of the boat make? But when they obeyed Jesus the net was so full that "now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish." What a difference it makes when we partner with Jesus even in the every day things of life! Having obeyed and caught the fish the disciples were now able to respond to Jesus request to add some of their fish to the fire He had prepared in order to serve them a meal.

That morning the disciples learned that doing things Jesus' way not only gave them success, but also the joy and reward of fellowship with him. This fishing episode carries some worthwhile lessons for us. When we set out to do something in our lives we need to make sure we have consulted Jesus. We need his help. When Jesus is included in our plans and activities we not only see success but also enjoy his presence and fellowship. Even us non-fishermen can learn something from fishing.

Three Appearances

Now that Easter week has passed by many will forget about the significance of the resurrection until next year. However Jesus continually offers his presence on our behalf. He has promised us (as he did Jacob in Genesis 28:15, the nation Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Joshua in Joshua 1:5 ) that He "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). We can count on the presence of Jesus at all times.

In Hebrews 9:24-28 we read of three appearances of Jesus. First, "He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." That appearance we have just celebrated this past resurrection Sunday. However, we also read that He has entered into heaven "to appear in the presence of God for us." During every moment of every day we can be assured that Jesus represents us before his Father. When our enemy accuses us, Jesus is there to defend us. He is referred to in I John as our advocate or attorney. It is the payment of his blood at the first appearance that is the basis of that daily defense. Finally, we are told that "He will appear (on earth) a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." How exciting it is to know the end of the story. No matter what troubles and disappointments life may hold, we are assured that Jesus is coming again to remove us from sin and all its accompanying problems.

The key to experiencing Jesus' appearance on our behalf before the Father and his appearance for us again on earth is to have received the free gift of his first appearance. Only those who "eagerly wait for him" will enjoy his final appearance. If you have accepted the gospel, the good news of Jesus death, burial and resurrection, then praise God for the continued presence of Jesus on your behalf. If you haven't place your faith in Jesus, then do so today.

The Son Has Risen

Several years ago we made a journey back to Michigan before winter had ended. After 21 years of being away from snow and ice covered roads we encountered a snow storm for the last two hours of our journey. Those two hours turned into more like five hours. We crept along on ice-covered freeways at twenty miles per hour in heavy traffic. Thanks to God's answer to my continuous prayer we finally arrived safely. This next morning was a wonderful blessing as we awoke to the brilliant sunshine melting away the snow and ice in time for the next leg of our trip.

Reflecting on this experience I could see the comparison to life itself. All of life is like the snow and ice storms through which we passed. It is fraught with dangers and anxieties. Each day can be so exhausting that we don't want to face another. Then God enters into life and sends the brilliance of his Son's light to melt away the frigid conditions. As I think back over the providences of life I rejoice that God has intervened time and time again to drive away the coldness of various events.

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He willingly allowed his enemies to take his life so that He could bring Son-light into the life of anyone who will receive him. In Hebrews 12:2 we read, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The joy that motivated Jesus to endure the cross was the changed lives that would result. That joy comes when the Son rises is our lives. It melts away the winter of our experience and brings spring to our life. If you haven't experienced the Son rising in your life, make that choice today.

Star-Gazing

When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness for forty years they "spoke against God and Moses." As a result Moses was instructed to set up a bronze serpent upon which they would gaze to be healed of snake bites God had sent as their consequence for complaining. In John 3:14-15 the significance of that event is seen in the words "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the So of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

As Jesus was crucified the Romans, the religious mob and all others who had gathered gazed upon Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star as he provided the healing payment for Satan's sin bite in their lives. In Matthew 27:36 the Bible says, "sitting down, they kept watch over Him there." While they were gazing upon Jesus they saw and heard evidences of who He was. The sayings of Jesus on the cross included "It is finished!" That, of course, referred to God's plan for the salvation of all who would receive the sacrifice made that day by Jesus. In response one of the Roman soldiers exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God."

Today we look back on that scene. We can choose to respond to the glory of God's Star or turn away and suffer the effects of Satan's bite. Look upon him today and enjoy the grace God has provided for today and all eternity. He has finished all that needs to be done for each of us except to receive the gift.

The Three Crosses of Calvary

As the plans for Friday's crucifixion were being laid, the Roman soldiers could not have imagined the significance of the three crosses that would stand on Golgotha, the 'Place of a Skull'. To them it was just another day and another crucifixion. Many will have the same thoughts regarding the events of the next few days. What is the foundation of their faith for some is nothing more than another holiday for others.

However, those three crosses signify the entire gamut of choices for every person who walks the face of planet Earth. The middle cross was the cross of redemption. On it was Jesus dying like sinners, dying among sinners and dying for sinners. That cross manifested God's love, fulfilled God's law and secured God's liberty for man. To one side of Christ's cross was the cross of reception. From it comes the "brief biography of a blessed man." That morning the thief who was hung there was lost and condemned. By midday he was experiencing the grace of God and by midnight he was in glory with his Savior. On the other side of Christ's cross was the cross of rejection bearing a calloused, sin-hardened heart. He was just as near Christ and heard the same message but rejected both. He was unholy, unfit and unclean. While Christ can save in spite of these, the man was also unwilling and about that Christ can do nothing.

Today all people face the same three crosses. Many see Christ as the ethical man, the social man, the teacher, or the example. Many do not regard him at all. All of these have aligned themselves with the cross of rejection. Some see Christ as the substitutional sacrifice that He is. He was on that cross paying for our sin. These choose to humbly call for God's grace and like the repentant thief on the cross will join their Savior in glory. If Christ were being crucified today which on which side would you stand?

Don't Give Me the Facts, My Find Is Made Up

We often allow ourselves to be so deluded that we become totally illogical. There are various factors that result in such a situation. Our anger may have taken over for normal reason. Our personal desires may overshadow the truth. Our emotions may fuel our passion and cloud our judgment. Sometimes our illogical thinking and actions are purely a matter of self-elevation. In Romans 1: 21-22 we read that "having suppressed the truth in unrighteousness" many "became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools...." It is amazing just how much foolishness our pride will generate in our lives.

This problem is not new. It began with Adam and Eve who in pride chose to disobey God in the very beginning. In Matthew 27:15-26 we see the pride of man in action. Feeling their position and power threatened, the mob cried out for Barabbas to be released and Christ to be crucified. Barabbas was a murderer and Jesus had done no wrong. Pilate attempted to reason with them. He asked them, "Why, what evil has He done?" Pilate even demonstrated symbolically his conviction that Jesus was innocent of the charges lodged against him when he "washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just Person'. Nevertheless, the trumped up charges prevailed and Jesus was led to the crucifixion.

While we look back upon the incident with disdain, we must realize that we are also guilty of the same thought processes. We frequently would rather hide the facts of our own failures and as a result make decisions that reject the truth of God's Word. In so doing we essentially choose Barabbas instead of Christ. We prefer to allow the evil and wickedness of life to run free while crucifying the Truth that draws us toward right decisions. Let us resolve today that it will be Jesus who is freed in our lives to rule and reign. We must crucify the Barabbas in us.

The Extra Mile

We have all heard of people who go the extra mile for someone else. Of course that refers to putting forth greater effort and more patience in waiting for a positive response from another person. On some occasions that response never comes and we wonder if all that effort was wasted. However, when the desired result does take place, the satisfaction causes us to forget all the difficulties we endured. Perhaps that is what Jesus felt when we read that he endured the cross for the joy that was set before him.

Jesus certainly set the example in going the extra mile. In Mark 14:32-42 we read that while the disciples waited and even slept Jesus "went a little farther and fell on the ground and prayed...." As Jesus prayed we note that he went a little farther in responsiveness to the Father. He said to God, "Not what I will, but what You will." The experience that was before him was not humanly desirable but Jesus was willing to go through it in response to his Father's plan for our redemption. In accepting that plan Jesus also went a little farther in courage. The more difficult a task the more courage we must summon to complete it. No task was more difficult than for the perfect, sinless Son of God to accept the wages of our sin upon himself. However, Jesus went the extra mile and did just that. Finally, Jesus went a little farther in obedience. Philippians 2:8 says Jesus was "obedient to the point of death." While he could have called the angels to his rescue, he did not.

The impact of Jesus' extra mile becomes real when we understand that He put forth all that responsiveness, courage and obedience on our behalf. Now He patiently waits for our response. Some have not responded at all. Others have a weak, intermittent response. Some have made a full commitment demonstrated by daily faithfulness in praise and service. How difficult it must be for Jesus to have gone the extra mile and then wait patiently for us to respond.

Road Signs to Defeat

Anyone who has traveled much knows that when directions are given they usually include road signs. One might be to turn left at the big barn. Another to watch for the intersection with a gas station on each corner. As long as the road signs are noted then arriving at the desired destination is certain. Spiritually there are also some signs to watch for in avoiding the wrong road.

In Luke 22:54-60 Peter's road to the denial of Christ reveals some important warning signs for us. Notice that first Peter "followed at a distance" when Christ was arrested and led away. How often a believer's downfall begins by keeping a distance between himself and Christ. We must not let what people might say or do keep us from immediate identification with Jesus. Shortly after that Peter is found sitting among unbelievers warming himself by their fire. It doesn't take long when we are distanced from Jesus to be drawn to the comforts of the unbelieving world. Finally, Peter fulfilled the prophecy Jesus had made and denied the Savior three times. When the rooster crowed Peter must have been jerked back into reality. Perhaps he said to himself, "How did I get to this point?"

We, too, often are driven to ask that question. Generally we do not go from follower to denier in one big step. The process happens over time with little decisions along the way that lead us farther and farther from the Lord. Then suddenly we come up against an awakening event or circumstance that brings forth the same question Peter must have had. It was not too late for Peter to be restored and used in a mighty way for his Lord. Nor is it ever too late for us. If you have begun the same journey away from Jesus that Peter took, you can turn back to him at any time. If you are following at a distance, get back into fellowship. If you have actually denied him by your words or actions, run to him with repentance. Jesus will restore you. If neither of these have happened, then praise the Lord for his goodness. God is good all the time. He is good in our times of victory and He is good in our times of failure.

When the Stones Cry Out

"I don't wear my religion on my sleeve" or "Religion is a personal thing" are comments we often hear today. Sometimes these words indicate that the person doesn't really have a relationship with God. At other times the underlying problem is fearfulness to speak up about God. Keeping believers silent is a strategy of the enemy. If he can't keep us from joining God's family, he will do everything possible to keep us from sharing our faith with others.

In Luke 19:40 Jesus stated that if all other testimony was silenced "the stones would immediately cry out." The occasion was the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. At this point there was no silencing of any testimonies. The disciples and the people of Jerusalem openly declared Jesus as the "King who comes in the name of the Lord." Even the colt on which no one had ever sat willingly carried Jesus amidst all the excitement and noise. Seeing such support for Jesus, the Pharisees insisted that Jesus rebuke his disciples. At that point Jesus made the statement that if He did so the stones would cry out.

Nature has always cried out in praise to Jesus. We cannot look into a clear night sky, sit in the forest next to a flowing stream or travel the mountains and seashores of our country without praise to God filling our hearts and minds. However as believers we are often silenced not by Jesus as the Pharisees had requested but by our own choice or by our fear of what men may say. While unbelievers unashamedly reveal their immoral activities, philosophies and rebellion against God, we believers keep the silence. We must be the voices of those crying in the wilderness of this world just as John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness announcing the coming of Jesus. Let's not force the stones to cry out because of our silence. Give praise to God today within your heart and with your lips.

Enough Is Not Enough

Most of us are willing to forgive others when they wrong us, but how much is enough. Perhaps we hold to the baseball based adage, 'three strikes and you're out'! Has there been someone who just kept on offending you even though you had forgiven them once... twice... even three times? Should you keep on forgiving them?

In New Testament days the standard man had set for forgiveness was a maximum of three times. After that no forgiveness was required. So when Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18:21, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" he (Peter) thought he was being quite generous in his suggestion. He must have been quite surprised to hear Jesus answer, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Now some of us might do the math and conclude that 490 times would be the limit. However, Jesus was saying there should be no limit to our forgiveness.

To illustrate the reasoning for such extravagant forgiveness Jesus told Peter a story. A servant owed his master ten thousand talents which someone has calculated would be about a million dollars in today's money. When the servant could not pay and faced losing everything he had including his freedom, he begged the master for patience. The master responded with compassion and completely canceled the debt. In turn the servant demanded repayment of a debt of a hundred denarii which someone has calculated as being a few dollars in today's money. When that servant could not pay he was thrown in prison by the very one who had been forgiven so much.

The point Jesus made was that we have been forgiven a debt of sin that we could never repay. That forgiveness was obtained by Jesus own death on the cross. In turn we are expected to forgive others rather than being like the unforgiving servant in the story. The same truth had been taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes when he said, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy." As we deal with those who may offend us in some way, we must remember how much our sin offended God and yet He still forgave us. Then as we carry out our life and continue to offend him we find that He forgives us again and again. We can do no less for others. We must follow the example God has set for us. The result will be God's blessing upon us and an impacting witness on others.

Father, Forgive Them

When Jesus was dying on the cross he uttered words of forgiveness toward those who crucified him. Everyone likes to be forgiven. However, not everyone accepts offered forgiveness. To do so implies admittance of our error and requires humility within our heart. God is prepared to repeatedly offer us forgiveness but we do not experience it unless we accept it.

Cain is an excellent example of God's grace unreceived. Having been asked to bring an offering to God, Abel brought the expected animal sacrifice which pointed toward the eventual sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. However, Cain wanted things his way and brought of the fruit of the ground. When God rejected Cain's sacrifice and Cain became angry God offered him forgiveness and an opportunity to repent. God said to him in Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" But Cain did not received the offered forgiveness. Instead, he killed his brother. Then when God asked, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain passed by another opportunity to receive God's forgiveness and tried to avoid the question by saying "Am I my brother's keeper?" Even in the resulting consequences God demonstrated his mercy. In response to Cain's fear of harm from others God placed a mark upon him. Some feel this mark was a mark of ownership. Cain could still return his Owner and receive forgiveness. Instead he pursued his own interests and begot a family in which the first instance of multiple wives and continued murder arose.

How wonderful God is to offer forgiveness even when we don't deserve or receive it. His first offer was made even while we were enemies and sinners. By accepting his forgiveness we can live without the guilt that our enemy wants to pile upon us. If you are living in the joy of forgiveness, give God praise for what He has done. If not, lay down the burden of guilt today. Each of us were included when Jesus said, "Father, forgive them."

Who Am I?

I have always enjoyed science fiction. I read Tom Swift books as a boy and watched just about every Star Trek episode on TV. One of my favorite Star Trek shows featured the shape shifters. They were a species that could change themselves from one thing to another at will. I always thought how neat that ability would be.

We actually do have that ability. According to Walter Anderson in his Confidence Course "You and I are not what we eat; we are what we think." More important than his opinion is the teaching of scripture. In Proverbs 23:7 we read "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he!" and in many places we read "According to your faith, so be it unto thee." Obviously it is extremely important for our thinking to be right so that we can be right.

The path to right thinking begins with a heart change. Scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. By our nature we don't think right. So our nature must be changed. We must become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Then we are told are told to let the mind of Christ be in us. A warning is given in Romans 12:1-2 to not be conformed to the world (and the way it thinks) but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.When we begin to think the way God thinks we are changed and can become more like Jesus every day. That is God's goal for us... to be conformed to the image of Christ. I once had a student explain his improper behavior as he suddenly realized a significant thought. He declared, "I forgot who I am." Who you are depends greatly on how you think. Who do you think you are?

Give One and Keep One

With all the emphasis on getting exercise and staying healthy we might be surprised to hear a caution against exercise. But there is one exercise that we perform way to much and it has no benefit whatever. As a matter of fact it negatively affects us and all who are around us. That exercise is frowning. It actually takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown. So, in this case the fewer muscles that get exercised the better.

Here is a little essay about smiling that I think you will find useful. "A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give." ~Author Unknown

Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." One may conclude that constant frowning which is the evidence of a broken spirit will dry us up emotionally and spiritually. On the other hand that dried up condition may be healed with the medicine of laughter and smiling. Give out the medicine of a smile today.

How Do I Love Thee?

In her most famous poem Elizabeth Barrett Browning began, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. After asking the question her love poem recounts the many ways her love is felt. We too express our love in many ways, but not always with true passion behind it. One young suitor told his girlfriend over the phone, "I love you with all of my heart, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, I yearn to be with you and look upon your beautiful face and if it doesn't storm tonight I will come and see you." Obviously he was all talk and no real passion or action.

Unfortunately, sometimes our love for the Lord is almost as misguided in its demonstration. In Psalm 40:6-9 David has discovered how God really wants us to express our love towards him. After having been rescued from the pit of sin David had evidently offered great sacrifices to the Lord and then discovered there was something else God really wanted as an expression of love. He says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire...Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require." We often try to express our love and commitment to God by giving of our money and involvement in many activities. We need to realize that these things are good but do not really demonstrate our love for God.

God wants from us the same things David discovered that God wanted from him. He summarized them in three great responses. David said, "My ears You have opened." True love for someone will result in our being willing to listen to them. We are often so busy trying to do things for God that we don't listen to him. David continued, "I delight to do Your will, O my God...." We often say we want God's will, but do we really? In Romans 12:1,2 the discovery of God's will is summarized as presenting our body a living sacrifice, not being conformed to the world, and being transformed by the renewing of our mind." The final means of demonstrating our love for God is seen in David's declaration, "I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness...." When we truly love someone we not only want to listen to them and carry out their desires but also to tell everyone about them. Our love for God should bring forth no less.

How do we love God? We have counted the ways that are important to him. Let us follow through by listening, obeying and sharing him with those around us.

Remember the Alamo

On this day in 1836 the Texans lost the battle of the Alamo. However, it was the remembrance of that loss that spurred them on to eventual victory over Mexico. Sam Houston's army echoed their battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" as they secured the final victory at San Jacinto. The valiant effort and great sacrifice of the fighting men at the Alamo had become the motivation for the struggle that led to victory.

As Christians we have an Alamo experience to remember as well. In our case the enemy was defeated in our life's Alamo but did not become inactive. It is our memory of the victory that enables us to continue the enemy's defeat every day.

David shares the action of the victory that each person who has become a believer has experienced. In Psalm 40:1-3 we see the record. Our situation like David's is described as being in a "horrible pit" and "miry clay." The reference is to a pit that was used to capture wild animals. Having fallen into the pit they would try to climb out only to slide back down its walls of slippery clay. Their cry of desperation could be heard constantly. That pit in our experience is the pit of sin that causes us to slip further and further into its black hole with every attempt to escape. It is only when we cry out to the Lord that we are rescued.

Our rescue from the pit of sin involves three actions by the Lord. David said that when God heard his cry and brought him up He "set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He put a new song in my mouth..." Every person who truly calls upon the Lord from the pit of sin experiences the same rescue. God give us the new foundation for life which is the Rock, Christ Jesus. He then provides direction for life in the person of the Holy Spirit. The transformation we experience results in a new song, a testimony of praise and thankfulness that draws others to place their trust in the Lord as well. Remember the Alamo of your spiritual life. It should spur you on to continued victory of the enemy and draw others to join you in the family of God. If you haven't had an Alamo experience, don't delay. God is waiting for your cry today.

The 4-H Club

As a young person growing up on the farm I became acquainted with several organizations that focus on personal development. Two of them were the Grange and the 4-H Club programs. Both of them provided opportunities for youth to be involved in leadership. With wholesome activities and programs young people were helped to become useful and effective citizens. The 4-H's of the 4-H Club emphasized the development of Head, Hands, Heart and Health.

God has his own 4-H Club. Through membership in it people of all ages can develop their lives in all the same areas through emphasis on four types of interaction with God's Word. In Psalm 119:9-16 God challenges us with his 4-H's. First we enjoy the cleansing that comes when we Heed God's word. The Psalmist says, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." The Bible is our guiding manual for successful membership in the family of God. Then we are able to develop purity as we "Hide God's word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Our responsibility to others is emphasized as we join with the Psalmist in saying, "With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. We Herald God's Word so that others may be touched as well. Finally, we are enabled to maintain a healthy, spiritually focused mind as we give Honor to God's word when we "meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways.

Those who join God's 4-H Club will find their lives changed internally and externally. When they heed, hide, herald and honor God's Word they are equipped for the greatest service of all to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They are prepared to impact each person they meet and leave a mark for God on this world. If you haven't become a part of God's great family and a follower of his word, consider it today. Your entire future for the present life and eternity will be changed.

Lamb or Lion?

An old weather saying declares that if March comes in like a lamb it will go out like a lion, but if it comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb. In my part of the country it came in with freezing morning temps and the threat of rain storms. I don't know if that is lambish or lionish.

In Revelation 5:1-10 the descriptive terms 'lamb' and 'lion' are also used in regard to Jesus. On one hand He is seen as the Lamb of God. John writes, " I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain." In the Old Testament a lamb was brought to the priest of the temple to be sacrificed as an indication of the person's repentance for sin and expectation that one day Jesus would come to pay for that sin as a sacrificial lamb. On the other hand Jesus is seen as the Lion who will rule, reign and judge all sin. Again John writes, "with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips...." Actually, Jesus will be both Lamb and Lion to all people. For some he will be the Lamb they rejected and the Lion who judges them. For others He will be the Lamb they accepted as their sacrifice for sin and then the Lion who will lead them in victory for eternity.

While the lamb and lion weather prediction is pure speculation, the Lamb and Lion as applied to Jesus is certainty. While the lamb and lion weather is passing, the Lamb and Lion as applied to Jesus is for all eternity. Jesus has made himself available to all as the Lamb. He willingly allowed himself to become the sacrifice for each of us. He simply invites us to come and receive his blessings.

Three Wishes

Have you ever dreamed of finding a magic lamp that you could rub and have a genie grant wishes? Would your wishes be what you really want and need? One story tells of a fellow who found such a lamp. Upon rubbing it the genie promised three wishes. The guy was elated and immediately asked for a new convertible for his first wish. When it magically appeared he proceeded to ask that it be filled with $100 bills. That wish too was fulfilled. Planning to give careful consideration to his third wish the guy decided to go for a drive in his new convertible. As he drove down the highway he was so happy he burst out singing, "I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener...." You can imagine the result for yourself.

We might smile at that, but are our wishes any better? We tend to pile stuff upon ourselves and then try to think of some more stuff that would make us contented. Of course, we don't really have a magic lamp or genie, but we do have a source of provision. God has promised to meet our every need. The biggest problem is knowing what we really need so that we can petition God with our request.

Perhaps the most famous request for something from God that comes to mind is that of Solomon. His request is held out as an example of real thoughtfulness. Solomon was the king and he was asked by God, "What shall I give you?" What does a king wish for? Solomon had a great position. He could order most anything he wanted from his subjects. But Solomon realized that with his inexperience he did have a need to enable him to be a good king.We generally say that Solomon asked for wisdom which is basically correct, but listen to his words in I Kings 3:9. "...give to your servant an understanding heart..." Solomon realized the importance of his relationship with those he would govern.

The Hebrew word for understanding is "listening," Solomon wanted a listening heart.We all have that same need. People all around us just want someone with whom they can share their feelings and circumstances. Most of the time we have no time to listen because we want to do all the talking. Let's ask God to give us a listening heart today. Then we will be equipped to minister to one of the greatest needs people have which is for someone to simply listen.