By Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran
Dearly beloved,
Mary Magdalene had great love for our Lord. What was the reason for her devoted love? The Lord Jesus had healed her who had been in the possession of seven evil spirits (Luke 8:2).
She not only showed Him her deep sense of gratitude but also ministered to Him (Luke 8:3). She was with Him wherever He went and preached. When He was about to be crucified, she stood near the Cross along with His mother Mary. Hence the Lord loved her and appeared first to her after rising alive from the grave.
The Bible relates, “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons” (Mark 16:9).
Let us love our God with all our heart and be thankful to Him (Colossians 3:15).
There was a slave in Rome named Androcles. His master treated him very cruelly. One day, he escaped and hid himself in a cave. Suddenly when he turned back, he saw a lion standing behind him. Instantly he trembled and wondered how to escape from it. But he saw tears rolling down its eyes. Soon, compassion for the beast welled up in his heart. The lion lifted its leg and showed it to him. Androcles was pained to see a thorn in it leg. He went near it, stroked its leg and gently removed the thorn.
Shortly afterwards, the Roman soldiers caught hold of him and put him in prison. The king ordered that severe punishment should be given to him for escaping from Rome. Generally, to punish the prisoners, it was a custom to starve the lions for a few days and then throw the prisoners before the hungry lions. So it was decided to throw Androcles into a lion’s den after starving it for a week. The lion in severe hunger was anxiously waiting to maul and devour its victim.
Androcles was thrown into the den, and everybody was anxiously waiting to see it tear him to pieces. But it came near him, patted him gently and slept by his side. In fear and trembling, Androcles looked at the animal with great surprise. It lifted its leg and showed it to him. Then only he realized that it was the same lion that he had helped. Hence the grateful lion did him not the least harm. Seeing the strange sight, the king released the slave Androcles immediately.
Dearly beloved! If a single act of love done by the slave could make the lion to love him, how much are we bound to love the gracious Lord Jesus who loves us and showers so much good on us throughout our lives.
We must daily remember the good things God has given us and thank Him. The Psalmist exclaims, “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare” (Psalm 40:5). Many are the good things which God has done for us. They are countless and immeasurable. So let us also be grateful to Him.
The Bible says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Christ has reconciled us to God through His sacrifice on our behalf on the Cross. Now we are delivered from the bondage of fear and hence can approach God anytime for help with confidence.
Mary Magdalene had great love for our Lord. What was the reason for her devoted love? The Lord Jesus had healed her who had been in the possession of seven evil spirits (Luke 8:2).
She not only showed Him her deep sense of gratitude but also ministered to Him (Luke 8:3). She was with Him wherever He went and preached. When He was about to be crucified, she stood near the Cross along with His mother Mary. Hence the Lord loved her and appeared first to her after rising alive from the grave.
The Bible relates, “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons” (Mark 16:9).
Let us love our God with all our heart and be thankful to Him (Colossians 3:15).
There was a slave in Rome named Androcles. His master treated him very cruelly. One day, he escaped and hid himself in a cave. Suddenly when he turned back, he saw a lion standing behind him. Instantly he trembled and wondered how to escape from it. But he saw tears rolling down its eyes. Soon, compassion for the beast welled up in his heart. The lion lifted its leg and showed it to him. Androcles was pained to see a thorn in it leg. He went near it, stroked its leg and gently removed the thorn.
Shortly afterwards, the Roman soldiers caught hold of him and put him in prison. The king ordered that severe punishment should be given to him for escaping from Rome. Generally, to punish the prisoners, it was a custom to starve the lions for a few days and then throw the prisoners before the hungry lions. So it was decided to throw Androcles into a lion’s den after starving it for a week. The lion in severe hunger was anxiously waiting to maul and devour its victim.
Androcles was thrown into the den, and everybody was anxiously waiting to see it tear him to pieces. But it came near him, patted him gently and slept by his side. In fear and trembling, Androcles looked at the animal with great surprise. It lifted its leg and showed it to him. Then only he realized that it was the same lion that he had helped. Hence the grateful lion did him not the least harm. Seeing the strange sight, the king released the slave Androcles immediately.
Dearly beloved! If a single act of love done by the slave could make the lion to love him, how much are we bound to love the gracious Lord Jesus who loves us and showers so much good on us throughout our lives.
We must daily remember the good things God has given us and thank Him. The Psalmist exclaims, “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare” (Psalm 40:5). Many are the good things which God has done for us. They are countless and immeasurable. So let us also be grateful to Him.
The Bible says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Christ has reconciled us to God through His sacrifice on our behalf on the Cross. Now we are delivered from the bondage of fear and hence can approach God anytime for help with confidence.
