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 (seen in the photo above), 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 too 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 many years ago 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
People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Prov 28:13
Thank You, Father God, for Your Word and for this blog that keeps on sharing Your Word with us. Bless all those workers who work for You, here and all over the world. Bless their work, Lord, and bring many hungry souls to You, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen Rob
Amen
I am so touched by David’s writing this morning, and also his prayer…..yours for friendships throughout time and eternity…
I believe that through this blog I have learned so much about God and heaven and eternity!
Thank you Lord for men like David Mainse who were and are obedient to you. and Lord thank you for the friendships that I am blessed with, may I be a good and humble friend to all that you bring into my life.
Amen Anne,:
We are always learning more and more each day. David was an amazing man and his his legacy still lives on.
Blessings Eleanor M.
A very enlightening read today. Thought provoking – I had to read it several times & 3 versions! Provers is so “right on!” Blessings all. Amen
Amen Doreen
Amen
Amen to all.David never takes credit for the work of the Holy Spirit.Some do not realize that when we surrender we give permission for Him to use/work ‘through’ us and mistakenly think they do the work ‘on their own.I too have been sharpened by David and this blog.Many thanks and may God bless
A Beacon
When you know that He really loves you,
Then you know you are a worthy kin
And that your faith will shine through
The curtain that’s weaved from sin,
So may your face be a shinning light,
To brighten someone’s darkest day,
For in the dark your flame shines bright,
To be a beacon that light’s their way.
G W (Bill) Marshall /16 Jan, 2014
Amen Bill
Amen
LORD,
Thank you for ALL these Blogger friends; those that speak and pray Your Word and those who are reading. Lord, we pray for all our friends who may be suffering in silence. We lift them up to YOU and know that YOU hear all of our prayers.
Thank YOU, with all my heart, for this Christian Community, supported by David Mainse legacy. LORD, I am truly blessed to know that they are my friends, and that we are growing daily in YOU, in Your Word.
May we continue to “sharpen the countenance”(vs17) of each other in the freedom of counsel.
Bless you Laur for your well said words.
We are all part of God’s family and He loves us so we should love and pray for one another . Eleanor M.
Amen
Agreeing with all the above comments & prayers.
I prayed David’s prayer for today.
Thank you Lord for being a true and faithful friend to all of us,
in Jesus’ Blessed Name, Amen.
Amen
Amen to the thoughts comments and prayer above
Praying God’s blessing on all my dear bloggers Today
Praying David’s prayer and thanking him for the Legacy that he has left
Also thinking Reynold for his pictures that accompany these blogs 🙏❤️
Correction that is supposed to be thanking Reynold for his pictures not thinking
Okay sorry about that 🙏