WILD THINGS

He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:13 (NAS)

 
Recently, while studying the gospel of Mark, part of verse thirteen lit up as never before—and He was with the wild beasts.

Why had I never noticed that? The gospel of Mark is succinct, and yet He used six words to tell us there were wild animals alongside Jesus in the wilderness. A fact omitted by the other gospels. Why?

My curiosity piqued. Upon researching, I found many people posed the same question. However, none of their ideas satisfied me.

Praying, I asked God what He wanted me to see. Since the Bible is the living word of God, it began to speak to my spirit.

In the Garden of Eden animal and man lived in harmony. After the fall, peace was shattered—animals became wild. Jesus was in the desert as man and yet, the animals did Him no harm.

All creation recognized His authority—everything except man, who He came to save.

Jesus changes everything for all time. This was the prelude to a new beginning. When Jesus returns, the lion and the lamb will lie down together. Perhaps the wild beasts recognized that Jesus was The Lamb, to be offered for our sins.

I pondered how Jesus changed my wild heart into a tame heart that seeks Him. He changed my selfish desire into caring desire for others to know Him as well.

Indeed, Jesus changed everything and He continues today.

I encourage you to invite Jesus to change the “untamed” part of you. You will never be the same. You will be better!

 Thank You Jesus, for your changing power. Amen.

 © 2019 Bonnie Mae Evans

THE LION AND THE LIGHT

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 (KJV)

 One night I had a lion cub dream. It was small and cuddly—absolutely adorable. As we romped, it gradually grew, muscles rippling playfully under his skin. He seemed innocent and cute; it was inconceivable that as a full grown lion he would weigh several hundred pounds.

With each pounce he got bigger and stronger, his claws and sharp teeth began to hurt and made small stinging wounds. There was nothing fatal at this point, but I began to realize there was great potential for harm. My playful lion cub was getting harder to manage. I kept trying to ease toward the door, but he always caught me before I could escape.

Others came and went back out through the doorway letting in a radiant light each time without offering assistance or even noticing my predicament. I kept watching the bright doorway for someone else—someone I knew could save me.

I awoke from my dream without ever seeing who I was hoping for—my savior from the lion. Pondering the parallel of the cub and how small sin can quickly grow and overtake us, I wanted to return to my slumber and the finale. But, in the dim light of dawn, my heart confidently whispered, you already know.

Indeed I do! Jesus, Savior of the world! Satan may taunt and inflict wounds, but he can never deliver the fatal blow that would separate us from our hope and salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

Thank You, Lord, we wait in faith KNOWING that You have come to our rescue and nothing can separate us from you. Amen.

 ©2016 Bonnie Mae Evans