life

On Wednesday, June 22, Anthony Mitchell, reporter for the Associated Press, shared the amazing rescue of a 12-year-old girl who was found guarded by three lions. [1] The girl had been abducted and missing from her home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a week. The young child was repeatedly beaten by seven men trying to force her into a marriage with

one of them.

Sergeant Wondimu Weajo, officer on the case, reported that the lions guarded the young girl for half a day until they found her. "Then," according to Weajo, "the lions just left her like a gift and went back into the forest. If the lions had not come to her rescue it could have been worse because often these young girls are raped and severely beaten to force them to accept the marriage against their wishes."

Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural-development ministry in Addis Ababa, suggested that if lions heard the girl whimpering they may have mistaken the sound for the mewing of a lion cub. This would explain why they didn't eat her.

The United Nations estimates that more than 70 percent of marriages are by abduction in the rural areas of Ethiopia where 71 million people reside. [2]

Lions saved this young Ethiopian girl from death by sinners. Jesus Christ died to save sinners who make Him Lord of their life from eternal death.

The word Lord has many contexts. Used as a noun, lord often refers to one who is of high rank in a feudal society--especially a king or a magnate of a specific territory or manor. "Lord of the Rings," J.R. Tolkin's religious classic, recently was made into a Hollywood movie. Then there is the British House of Lords where even the abbreviation Ld.  stands for the general masculine title of nobility. In other usage, the word refers to one who domineers or lords it over a subordinate--a master.

In the Bible the word Lord is used interchangeably to mean God, Christ or Jesus and generally calls for capitalization. Scripture suggests reverence, awe and appreciation rather than dominance. Some examples are:

LORD: John 20:28 "Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

LORD OF ALL: Acts 10:36 "The word which he sent to the children of

Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of

all..."

LORD OF GLORY: 1 Corinthians 2:8 "Which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory."

LORD OF LORDS: 1 Timothy 6:15 "which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords"

"Savior" is also capitalized with reference to Jesus. Savior is a descriptor. It is something someone does. He saves, therefore he is a savior, a life guard. If we were pulled to safety from a burning house or tsunami, we would have a life-long appreciation and special bond with the one who saved us. We'd be willing to do almost anything for that person. If we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior, we also need to demonstrate that special bond with Him.

In our new series of lessons we will be given Biblical strategies to show us that Jesus is interested in our day-to-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute priorities, thoughts, desires, speech, prayers, relationships, resources, body, labor, worship and service to others.  We'll learn how Jesus as Savior and Lord does not use force or power in dealing with us. Instead He offers us opportunity to depend upon His wisdom and reality rather than having to rely only upon our own.

The question each of us will be asking during these next 13 weeks of study is this:

Am I really willing to experience Jesus Christ as Lord in every aspect of my life?

-june kiwia, july 1st, 2005