Nougat 2

Sometimes it feels like we’re the main course on the devil’s menu; and he’s roaring so hard we’re intimidated. I would encourage us to stay focused and not allow the roar to distract us. Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you ever consider that thie the biggest thing in a lion is is it’s roar? “A lion or tiger can roar,” according to the Smithsonian magazine, “… as loud as 114 decibels, about 25 times louder than a gas-powered lawn mower.” And a lion’s individual roar can be herd clearly from as far a 8 km (almost 5 miles) away. Other research notes that “lions proclaim their territory by roaring and by scent marking. Their distinctive roar is generally delivered in the evening before a night’s hunting and again before getting up at dawn.”

This also reveals that the lion tends to operate in the near dark. My logic says that that’s when other animals are likelier to be unawares (my opinion here). I note that at dawn herds are rising and getting sorted out. I suspect that other animals out and about are vulnerable.

If the lion’s roar is intentionally marking territory, then we know that its bite may be worse than its bark (roar). Thus if we begin our analogy there, we recognize that the devil is seeking to intimidate by marking territory, BUT we know that in the case of the devil it doesn’t belong to the devil since the earth is the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). Now that is vital information, as it also suggests that some of what the devil is doing is posturing. If the lion is marking territory with a roar, then some of it is intimidatory noise.

The king of the jungle is not necessarily the fastest, quietest or strongest of the cats;

BUT

with the mane and the roar, it is the most fearsome. The devil, though subtle, though filled with tricks is to be feared; or better yet watched/avoided; especially on this side of eternity. For this is the devil’s domain as prince of this world.

but

God’s power is forever greater. And, we know that as the Conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus has *Full and Total Control over our territory*! Hands down. Now that’s the Lion we ought to heed and fear! For, while it may seem that the turf war continues; Jesus already won the war by raising from the dead!

So we choose to be vigilant; the devil is still on the prowl. But we never loose sight of Jesus, the real deal, who’s already conquered all just for us.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ