All about perspective, Part 2
You’re in the penalty box! You’re in the penalty box! I am going to enjoy walking in front of you, back and forth, so I can emphasize my freedom and your captivity. I see dad is still tying that leash thing around you, just so you can get your smells in. Pitiful. I on the other hand can fully prance around with no control over my scheduled events for the day. Ahh, being an independent thinker is the life. Another perfect day for me. 5 hours of activity, balanced with a healthy 19 hours of sleep. Glorious!
I’ve scheduled dad to be in the kitchen promptly at 8:00am for my morning feeding. Then I will sharpen my weapons of marvelous destruction and gladly show them off to bark boy. How I loath his chasing, but I play along. Must keep up the charade, I know dad loves that stinky beast. Considering that dad is my tuna train, I certainly do not want a derail there.
Now that I have successfully trained dad to obey my feeding schedule, never interrupt my naps, and always allow me to cuddle on my terms, I am really starting to like this guy. He understands my dignified nature and never disrespects it.
Oh, silly man, what is that bag he is shaking. Does he honestly think I will love this new treat he is trying to convince me of? Did I tell you to buy it? Ok, I’ll try one or two. Not bad, relatively tasty, but if you think for one minute this replaces my sensational tuna, you have another thing coming. I am sure there is a penalty box big enough for you too.
Cats can be tuff sometimes, haha! I still love them though. I respect that I have to work at and seek out their love sometimes. They really know who they are and are very proud about it. There is something to be said, about being confident in who God created you to be. We all need to remember that somedays. To not compare ourselves to others, to be ourselves instead of something we are not. To not envy what someone else has, but instead find our well being in our relationship with Christ.
I have had cats my whole life. Some have been incredibly affectionate and followed me everywhere. Others more aloof, and not so willing to just be led. Some have been super cuddly, while others only prefer their scruffs. Whatever their personality has been, they have all had one thing in common: Regalness.
This got me thinking about a couple of things:
- Of all the animals Jesus made, He decided, that the Lion would forever be apart of one of His names; The Lion of Judah
- Cats have such a deep resolve to be who they were made to be. What wisdom that mindset carries.
Let’s explore number 1 a bit deeper. Jesus is coming back as a Lion to rule and reign. What incredible hope that gives us with the world we are living in. He will reign supreme and unchallenged, full in His Regal Splendor. There is also another side of lions that is rarely talked about. They are dependent on their Creator for food.
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?”—Job 38:39 NKJV
You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God “—Psalms 104:20-21.
When Jesus walked on earth, He walked in total dependence on the Father in both speech and deed. It’s incredible how perfect Jesus’ trust and faith were in a perfect Father. He showed us the way we are supposed to live our lives. If Jesus, the Lion of Judah walked this way, then we need to walk in humility as well. This is why pride is so unacceptable to Him and why He resists the prideful.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”—John 5:19-23
Let’s explore number 2 now. Cats don’t compromise and have such inner resolve. I like that, when we apply to living righteously and seeking God’s Holiness above all things. If you remember last week, Joseph had an inner resolve to him. He never quit, even in his lowest place. He knew, even through his brokenness, that God would keep His good Hand upon him.
As the days can look dark sometimes, let’s learn something from our Creator’s choice to create and align Himself with cats. He wants us to be both dependent and determined. It’s a beautiful balance that only the Holy Spirit can write with in us all.
He does not want us looking to people for our hope or dependency. He also wants us to seek Him for how to stand in this evil world on His unshakeable and unstoppable Truth. He is God and we will never be. I know its hard to live that way, but it really is where True Life and True Assurance can come from. Anything outside of that is really just building on sand.
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the Lord!
Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity. 3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together. For thus the Lord has spoken to me:
“As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey
(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,
He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise),
So the Lord of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.”—Isaiah 31:1-4 NKJV
Until next week…
Much love,
Scott
