Lion, Lamb, Savior!

It's time for today's Our Daily Bread devotional. The writer for today is James Banks, and the reading is titled Lion, Lamb, Savior. Two stately stone lions watch over the entrance to the New York Public Library.

Hewn from marble, they've stood there proudly since the library's dedication in 1911. They were first nicknamed Leo Lenox and Leo Astor to honor the library's founders. But during the Great Depression, New York's mayor, Fiorello LaGuardia, renamed them Fortitude and Patience, virtues he thought New Yorkers should demonstrate in those challenging years. The lions are still called Fortitude and Patience today. The Bible describes a living, powerful lion who also gives encouragement and trouble and is known by other names. In his vision of heaven, the apostle John wept when he saw that no one was able to open the sealed scroll containing God's plan of judgment and redemption. Then John was told in Revelation chapter five, do not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed.

He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Yet in the very next verse, John describes something else entirely. Then I saw a lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne. The lion and the lamb are the same person, Jesus. He's the conquering king and the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Through his strength and his cross, we receive mercy and forgiveness so that we may live in joy and wonder at all he is forever.

Now let's be encouraged by God's word. It's from Revelation chapter five, verses one through seven. Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Then I saw a lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Let's pray. Beautiful Savior, we praise you for who you are, a strong and mighty God. And as the scriptures say, you are both a lion and a lamb. Thank you for the mercy and forgiveness you expressed in Christ on the cross. Help us to live as those who have been truly saved and spread the good news to all today. Thank you, Jesus. It's in your name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.