Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
We know that lions are the only wild animals that exhibit social behavior. They group together in packs and each pack contains between 15 and 30 lions, including females and cubs. The packs are led by a male and three others who follow his direction. As long as others respect their position and role in the pack, there will never be any problems between them. On the other hand, the youngest can sometimes fight with the leader to acquire the knowledge necessary to ensure their survival in the event that they find themselves alone. This strategy allows them to be stronger.
When we consider this mark of respect and humility in these animals, it should lead us to question our position in relation to Jesus Christ as Christians. Jesus tells us in this verse that we must deny ourselves to follow Him and become His disciple. This implies that we must recognize His leadership and respect His authority over our lives. His command invites us to put aside all our selfish desires to walk in His ways.
Following Jesus will allow us to get closer to God and benefit from Hhis protection. If lions know that they need a leader to guide them as they walk through the jungle, how much more must you and I recognize that we need Jesus to guide us and save us in a world that is not going well.
May the grace and the peace of God be with you all.
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