Bold as a Lion

Lions have always been my favorite creatures. It started back when I was a little boy and I wanted to be, no, I thought I was a lion after watching Disney’s movie, The Lion King. Even now I am impressed by their great strength, their thick, muscular body, their deep, fearsome roar and confident appearance.

We read in the Bible that “the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB).  This is a scary thought. This means two things. The devil is like a lion. Therefore he is powerful, cunning, and dangerous. Not only that, but he is “seeking someone to devour”. He is seeking to devour you and me! That means we are this lion’s pray. 

What a scary thought, but the Bible says that someone else is like a lion. In Proverbs it says that, “the righteous are as bold as a lion” (28:1). What an interesting concept. Unlike the wicked, who “flee when no one is pursuing”, the righteous are bold, or confident in this life. This boldness and confidence is likened to that of a powerful and dominant lion. 

So do we have to be afraid of this lion the devil? No, because if we are depending on God and His word, living for Him, and doing what He commands, we too, are like a lion. All you have to do to counter the devil is to be a lion yourself and “resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9).

What a great idea. If my little-boy self would have known this, he would have been overjoyed. The adult that I am now is still thrilled by the thought, because there is a lot to be afraid of in this life. The devil is a confident and fierce lion, but we can resist him. If we lean upon God and His word, and live a righteous life for Him, then we can and will be an even more confident and fierce lion!