“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me.” (Daniel 6:22a).

In the book of Daniel, we find a powerful metaphor for the trials and challenges that believers face in their spiritual journey. When Daniel was cast into the lion’s den, he faced a den of fierce, hungry lions, yet he emerged unscathed because of his unwavering faith in God. Today, we face different kinds of lions—threats that may not have sharp teeth or roar, but still seek to destroy us spiritually. Using Daniel’s story as a foundation, let us examine the lions we encounter in this life.

The Roaring Lion.
The Apostle Peter warned us of a fierce predator who constantly stalks us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This roaring lion represents Satan, who seeks to devour souls by pulling us away from God. Though Satan has been bound and limited in power by Christ’s victory on the cross, his influence continues through false teachings and deception. As Paul wrote, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:15, KJV). To resist this roaring lion, we are called to “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

The Lion of Idolatry.
One of the lions that seeks to devour us today is the lion of idolatry. Paul warned the Colossians to “mortify… covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Idolatry is not merely the worship of carved images or false gods; it is also the elevation of anything in our lives above God. Whether it be money, fame, power, or even ourselves, anything that takes the place of God in our hearts becomes an idol. We must guard our hearts against this lion, ensuring that God remains first and foremost in all we do.

The Lion of Oppression.
Living a faithful Christian life often brings us face-to-face with the lion of oppression. Paul told Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Oppression can take many forms, from direct persecution for our faith to more subtle societal pressures that tempt us to compromise our beliefs. Today, we must be prepared to endure trials and trust that God will deliver us.

The Lion of Nationalism.
Another lion that seeks to devour our faith is the lion of naturalism—trusting in earthly solutions and human institutions rather than in God. The role of government is ordained by God, and we are called to submit to it, as Paul explained in Romans 13:1-7. The lion of naturalism deceives us into believing that the solutions to life’s problems are found purely in this world, but as Christians, our hope is in the eternal promises of God. As Paul reminds us, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

The Lion of Sin.
Finally, perhaps the most dangerous lion we face is the lion of sin. James wrote, “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). Sin crouches at the door, waiting to devour us, and often it begins with the smallest temptation. Like a lion stalking its prey, sin often sneaks up on us gradually, catching us in moments of weakness. The key to overcoming this lion is to stay alert and grounded in God’s Word.

Agape,
Spencer

3 STEPS INTO SIN. James 1:12-15

SET your sights on your lusts / desires.

1:14 drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

INCREASE those lusts into action.

1:15a when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:

NO more fellowship with God. Isa 59:2; Rom 6:23

1:15b sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of James. If you live in the Borger area, We invite you to join us at 6:30pm each Wednesday night for the next few weeks.

Click here for an overview chart of the Book of James.

MEM

Psalm 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Why does this one have MORE?

Perhaps because he MEDITATES MORE? 99

Perhaps because he OBEYS MORE? 100-101

Perhaps because he RESTRAINS FEET MORE from every evil way? 101

Perhaps because EVERY false way is hated more? 104

Desiring the sincere MILK of the word.

1Peter 1:22-2:3

MOTIVATE us to want to hear it? Acts 10:30-33

INTEREST us to Think On It Phil 4:9

LACTOSE INTOLERANT? Afraid Acts 24:25. Angry Acts 7:54, Gal 4:16. Apathetic Acts 26:28,

Arrogance Phil 3:19; Col 3:23.

KEEP YOU from evil? 1Pet 2:1 lay aside. Does it keep you growing? Heb.5:13-14

Let’s get serious for a moment. All jokes aside, the slapping of Chris Rock by Will SMITH was a low moment in each of their lives. Chris making an inappropriate joke. Will’s physical assault to defend his wife’s honor. Jada’s janky past. It’s hard to tell who’s the victim.

As the crowd rushes to the internet with their memes in hand, it is very easy to be swept up in the frenzy and grab our own memes to throw. Before we hit ‘send’ (again), let’s LISTEN to the wisdom of our Lord.

In John 8, we may see similarities that can shed some light on our current condition. “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (see John 8:3-11)

It’s easy to stand on the outside casting judgment on the sinful, maybe crack a joke or two. That’s where we see these folks in John 8, and where we find ourselves in the Rock / Smith Slap.

Without giving APPROVAL to the sin of adultery, (and by extension, not giving APPROVAL to Chris & Will), Jesus presses pause on the minds of the crowd to give them time to reflect. “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

You see, neither were in good standing with God. The woman caught in the very act, nor the accusers with their janky past and their stones of judgment. “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.”

When I ask this same question of myself as I’m cracking the jokes, or casting the stones of judgment, I’m convicted. Which of us has not LOST their cool?

Before we step up and cast our stones of judgment, let’s take a moment to think. Which one of us hasn’t LOST his cool in the heat of the moment? Who hasn’t offended another, been offended by another, or has a janky past?

Perhaps I can take a moment to silently (and privately) write in the sand those things I’ve said and done when I last LOST control of myself.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Prov 16:32)

I’m convicted. “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)

What do I do now with that SLAP heard ‘round the world? Press PAUSE, or better yet, Press DELETE on those memes and ask for PARDON.

Maybe also say a PRAYER or two.

—spencer

Just a notification that due to recent changes from wordpress without adequate notification to me, I have been unable to post for about a month.

The problem has been identified, I have located the new widget and will now post all of the articles from the last 30 days.