Living the iconic "lionic" life

Recently a Guest minister in our church shared 2 things about a lion that I need to share with us. I'll start by laying a foundation...from the Word:

A lion's offspring is a cub=little lion. It may be little, nevertheless,  it's still a lion. It may not be able to do all a Papa or Mama lion can do (yet) but it is capable of doing all that and even more...


The Bible has quite a bit to say about lions.

Revelation 5:5b - ...“See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed...” (NIV)

Romans 8:16-17, 29 tells us how we're related to this Lion
¹⁶For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for all God gives to his Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. (Living Bible)
²⁹For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NLT)

Based on these verses, if you are a child of God and hence Jesus' li'l bro/sis, then you're a lion. Once you accept that, then Proverbs 28:1 relates to you:

The wicked run away even though no one pursues them,

but the righteous are as confident as a lion. (Common English Bible)

I know that with how fiercely the devil attacks us, some people may be mistaken and think the devil is a lion. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us: "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. (Amplified, emphasis mine)

With that Word (not wood) foundation, let me proceed to the 2 things the Guest Minister said:

1. As the lion walks through the jungle, it says to itself:

"No matter the economy of the jungle, I will not eat grass."   

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 tell us how to live in this reality...
“But the person who trusts [has confidence] in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that he can be trusted […whose trust/confidence is in him]. ⁸ He will be like a tree planted near water [vital and strong] that sends its roots by a stream [Ps. 1:3]. It is not afraid when the days are hot [heat comes]; its leaves are always green. It does not worry [is not anxious] in a year when no rain comes [of drought]; it always produces fruit.*

2. The lion is not the fastest nor is it the biggest animal in the jungle, however, it can bring down a cheetah and an elephant. It may not seem so, especially for a lion cub, but it has the capacity within it...Romans 8:16 explains how:
¹⁶ So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]**

We should live lionic lives - knowing that irrespective of what happens around, and even to us, we will always be above because we're connected to God and He will have mercy to us. One thing I know, taking a cue from the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is that living a lionic life is an iconic one.

References:
* Expanded Bible, emphasis mine
** Amplified Bible
For other lessons on living the iconic lionic life, see:
http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.ca/2010/02/lion-eagle-lambsheep.html
http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.ca/2010/01/learn-from-lion.html
http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.ca/2010/01/being-lioness.html

Note: Our Guest Minister was Pastor Jide Oyetuga. I added the scripture references...