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Yesterday during our family devotional, I asked my two sons, aged 8 and 10 how big they were. Immediately they started to show themselves to be big and even started to stand on their tip of their toes. “I am big, very big!” I then asked how strong they were. Again their answer was: “I am very strong. I am stronger than my brother”. When I asked how these two strong young men would feel if they were confronted by two drunken men with knives in their hand. All of a sudden they didn’t feel that big and strong. Then I asked that how they would feel if a heavy (250 pounds) tank of a man (an Arnold Swartzenegger type) stood behind them (let’s call him Bulky), and Bulky was at their side. They both felt they could stop that brawl without any difficulties. This reminds me of a scene in the Lion King movie (my memory may not be too accurate, as I saw this movie 10 years ago!) The little lion prince was with his friend, Nala. They were surrounded by hyenas. The little prince tried to be courageous and growled a ferociously weak growl. The hyenas, undeterred, were closing in on them. But at his last yelp, the hyenas suddenly stopped in their tracks, turned, and ran away. The litter prince, filled with pride, smiled. Then he turned around and saw his dad, the most ferocious lion in the land: the Lion King. No wonder those hyenas ran away! Did the little prince scare them away? No! The Lion King standing behind the prince scared them away! How do we react when we are facing colossal problems? Are we shying away from them? How do we react towards people who need to hear the salvation message? Do we lose all of our strength? Does it seem that our God is very little at those times? The way we see our God will determine our actions on this planet. We may proclaim that God is all powerful, but if we don’t believe He is powerful in our situation, we will lead lives of defeat and of discouragement. We cannot have a Bulky all the time at our side (it would be annoying any way! Nobody would notice you. Everyone would notice Bulky!). However, we are guaranteed to have Jesus at our side at all times. Here is His guarantee: Matt 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (He sure is big and powerful! He is the most powerful being in the Universe!) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV The most powerful being in the Universe, the One who has all authority in the Universe (there is no one higher than that!), promises to be with us at all times. No hyenas have a chance against us with our Heavenly Father backing us! Should we lead defeated lives? No! Jesus is with us! Should we feel embarrassed to share the gospel with someone, fearing possible rejection? No! Jesus is with us! Should we feel intimidated with the enormous problems we are facing? No! Jesus is with us! Victory can only be ours with such odds.
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org