A FRIEND AND A LION
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 27-28
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
After preaching the gospel in Philippi, Paul passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia with Silas during his second missionary journey, traveling on the Ignatia Way from Philippi to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). Amphipolis was one of the most important cities of Macedonia in antiquity. The “Lion of Amphipolis” has been dated from the fourth century B.C. It stands on a restored pedestal on the very spot where its broken and scattered pieces were found. It was either a funerary monument or a monument erected to commemorate some as yet unidentified military victory. For readers of 100words, the Lion can remind us to be, as Proverbs 28:1b says, “Bold as a lion.” To my photographer son, Rev. David R. Mainse, I say, “Never flee from a challenge. As a righteous man you are as bold as a lion.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 27:17, 28:1
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
…The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
The word “friend” in our first key verse refers back to 27:10a which says, “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend.” True friends never forsake one another, and true friends interact with each other in a way that “sharpens!” “Dull” is not very attractive in any life! When we love each other, we want the very best for our friends, and therefore we are not afraid to confront, to argue sometimes, and to seek change for the better, humbly recognizing that we need to change, more often than not, probably more than our friends need to change.
In the second key verse, the word “BOLD” stands out BOLDLY! The Apostle Paul was a true friend of the young Pastor Timothy. Iron was sharpening iron in Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:2, “PREACH THE WORD! BE READY IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON. CONVINCE, EXHORT, WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING AND TEACHING!” In 2 Timothy 4:5 Paul cuts with the sharp iron sword of God’s Word when he writes, “YOU BE WATCHFUL IN ALL THINGS, ENDURE AFFLICTIONS, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY” (see 2 Timothy 4:1-5).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I thank You for my friends. I pray that I will consistently cherish friendship, never taking my friends for granted, and always having their best interests in my prayers and my actions. I thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are my very best true Friend forever. I ask for grace to be as Proverbs 28:1 says, “As bold as a lion,” in telling everyone about my Friend, Jesus, who is also the Son of God and my Saviour and Lord, in whose Name I pray, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve just watched again the interview I did with Dr. Roland Harrison, the lead Hebrew scholar in the “New King James” translation of the Bible (If you missed it, click here). With us on that same edition of 100 Huntley Street was Dr. Charles Ratz. In Massey Hall, Toronto, during my college graduation exercises, my Dean of Theology, Dr. Ratz, gave the charge to the graduates. He quoted the Apostle Paul saying, “I CHARGE YOU THEREFORE BEFORE GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WILL JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM: PREACH THE WORD!” That charge sharpened me and still does. That charge cut deeply into my innermost being and still does. It helped motivate me to be “BOLD AS A LION” throughout the almost 57 years since that time. This has been purely and completely God’s grace which has been given to me. I will be eternally grateful to my friends who, through the years, have been true and faithful in their friendship. I have been corrected, and as a result have become, I think, a new and improved version of David Mainse. Thank you! Thank you! Thank You! Most of all I say to Jesus, “Thank You!!!!!”
Yours for friendships throughout time and eternity,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of my son Rev. Ron Mainse playing the part of Scrooge at a past Crossroads Christmas party. He poked some good-natured fun at several of our team members…including me, the “Ghost of Crossroads Past!”
Yes true friendship is hard to find God Bless You Pastor Mainse and zll your friends and family and each blogger in Jesus name Amen
The lion is magnificent. Yes, let us be bold as a lion, amen. A beautiful poem for a beautiful day, for you, dear blessed saints. Come, Jesus, come.
Coming
By Barbara Miller MacAndrew
“IT may be in the evening,
When the work of the day is done,
And you have time to sit in the twilight
And watch the sinking sun,
While the long bright day dies slowly
Over the sea,
And the hour grows quiet and holy
With thoughts of me;
While you hear the village children
Passing along the street,
Among those thronging footsteps
May come the sound of my feet.
Therefore I tell you: Watch
By the light of the evening star,
When the room is growing dusky
As the clouds afar;
Let the door be on the latch
In your home,
For it may be through the gloaming
I will come.
“It may be when the midnight
Is heavy upon the land,
And the black waves lying dumbly
Along the sand;
When the moonless night draws close,
And the lights are out in the house;
When the fires burn low and red,
And the watch is ticking loudly
Beside the bed:
Though you sleep, tired out, on your couch,
Still your heart must wake and watch
In the dark room,
For it may be that at midnight
I will come.
“It may be at the cock-crow,
When the night is dying slowly
In the sky,
And the sea looks calm and holy,
Waiting for the dawn
Of the golden sun
Which draweth nigh;
When the mists are on the valleys, shading
The rivers chill,
And my morning-star is fading, fading
Over the hill:
Behold I say unto you: Watch;
Let the door be on the latch
In your home;
In the chill before the dawning,
Between the night and morning,
I may come.
“It may be in the morning,
When the sun is bright and strong,
And the dew is glittering sharply
Over the little lawn;
When the waves are laughing loudly
Along the shore,
And the little birds are singing sweetly
About the door;
With the long day’s work before you,
You rise up with the sun,
And the neighbors come in to talk a little
Of all that must be done.
But remember that I may be the next
To come in at the door,
To call you from all your busy work
Forevermore:
As you work your heart must watch,
For the door is on the latch
In your room,
And it may be in the morning
I will come.”
So He passed down my cottage garden,
By the path that leads to the sea,
Till he came to the turn of the little road
Where the birch and laburnum tree
Lean over and arch the way;
There I saw him a moment stay,
And turn once more to me,
As I wept at the cottage door,
And lift up his hands in blessing—
Then I saw his face no more.
And I stood still in the doorway,
Leaning against the wall,
Not heeding the fair white roses,
Though I crushed them and let them fall.
Only looking down the pathway,
And looking toward the sea,
And wondering, and wondering
When he would come back for me;
Till I was aware of an angel
Who was going swiftly by,
With the gladness of one who goeth
In the light of God Most High.
He passed the end of the cottage
Toward the garden gate;
(I suppose he was come down
At the setting of the sun
To comfort some one in the village
Whose dwelling was desolate)
And he paused before the door
Beside my place,
And the likeness of a smile
Was on his face.
“Weep not,” he said, “for unto you is given
To watch for the coming of his feet
Who is the glory of our blessèd heaven;
The work and watching will be very sweet,
Even in an earthly home;
And in such an hour as you think not
He will come.”
So I am watching quietly
Every day.
Whenever the sun shines brightly,
I rise and say:
“Surely it is the shining of his face!”
And look unto the gates of his high place
Beyond the sea;
For I know he is coming shortly
To summon me.
And when a shadow falls across the window
Of my room,
Where I am working my appointed task,
I lift my head to watch the door, and ask
If he is come;
And the angel answers sweetly
In my home:
“Only a few more shadows,
And he will come.””
Published in The World’s Best Poetry. Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. Bliss Carman, et al., eds.
He Will Come and Save You, performed by Bob Fitts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf3RUu2dZBI
this looks Great!! …looking forward to going through it later this day!!!
blessings all
Last night as I was going through my Christmas cards deciding which one to give to who, when I came across one that had this beautiful message about friendship. I bought this card long time ago because it was such a pretty card, yet every year I never given it to anyone because I realized there is no one in my life at the moment that suited the message. I have friends but not the kind this card spoke of. I decided last night the only person I could give this card to was Jesus Himself. So that is what I did, I lifted up the card and gave it the Lord, saying this was from me to Him
Well I don’t know if this was a coincidence but today at church I had the unexpected surprise of seeing an old friend who moved away years ago. I haven’t seen them in maybe ten years. It was a very short visit, but it was precious gift to have gotten during this holy season of Advent, one that I like to think Jesus gave me, as a response to my gift to Him last night. Our Lord really does long and desire our friendship as well as to give His to us– and I got a nice reminder of both this weekend.
Good to see Dr. Ratz again and thank you Beverlee for the poem and song.
What a Great picture Rev. David Reynold Mainse!!!
Your words to your son “never to flee from a challenge” how special and encouraging words “As a righteous man you are as bold as a lion”!!!
What a good word from Dr. Ratz…affirming those of the Apostle Paul to “Preach the Word in season out of season”…which took root in your heart as is evidenced in and through this blog.
“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our grieves and sins to bear” He is no wimp, He tells it like it is!!! Praise His Holy Name!!!!