One of my favorite things in life is animation. I particularly love the scene where Simba is faced with so many questions and is obviously in a point of soul searching. Not only did he lose his dad at a very young age but, he's left with a legacy of royalty to uphold.
I also LOVE Rafiki, the wise old baboon that, if you're in Simba's shoes, you don't want to hear... but you do. His mannerisms may not be to your liking but his words are unmistakably true and prompts you to react or to respond.
Rafiki, the wacked out prophet, tells Simba that his father is alive and then issues the challenge "Come, I'll show you." Lesson number one: When discipling, don't just stop with mere words. I'm sure many of you have heard of the EDIP teaching method. Explain, Demonstrate and Imitate. Problem is, most of us are guilty of falling short of the first method of explaining... Rafiki could have taken the easy way and issued the challenge of "Go". Instead he told Simba, his student, "Come, follow me. I'll show you." My mind immediately goes to Paul as he says "Therefore I urge you to imitate me." (1 Cor 4:16) In other words, "Follow me because I follow Christ."
In that instance, Simba is so excited to see the face of his father that he sets off running. He's so determined, in fact, that he barely slows down in spite of the vines and branches and numerous other obstacles along the way. His focus is primarily on one thing; seeing the face of his father. Hebrews 12 says "... let us throw off everything and the sin that so easily entangles." Who would've thought we had so much to learn from Simba?
I also LOVE Rafiki, the wise old baboon that, if you're in Simba's shoes, you don't want to hear... but you do. His mannerisms may not be to your liking but his words are unmistakably true and prompts you to react or to respond.
Rafiki, the wacked out prophet, tells Simba that his father is alive and then issues the challenge "Come, I'll show you." Lesson number one: When discipling, don't just stop with mere words. I'm sure many of you have heard of the EDIP teaching method. Explain, Demonstrate and Imitate. Problem is, most of us are guilty of falling short of the first method of explaining... Rafiki could have taken the easy way and issued the challenge of "Go". Instead he told Simba, his student, "Come, follow me. I'll show you." My mind immediately goes to Paul as he says "Therefore I urge you to imitate me." (1 Cor 4:16) In other words, "Follow me because I follow Christ."
In that instance, Simba is so excited to see the face of his father that he sets off running. He's so determined, in fact, that he barely slows down in spite of the vines and branches and numerous other obstacles along the way. His focus is primarily on one thing; seeing the face of his father. Hebrews 12 says "... let us throw off everything and the sin that so easily entangles." Who would've thought we had so much to learn from Simba?
When Simba reaches the place where he expects to see the face of his father, he's placed in a position of taking a long, hard look at himself. Initially, he sees only himself. Isn't that normally the case? Typically, we're so self centered and buried in our circumstances that we don't see any further than that. It would behoove us to take into consideration the command of "Honor thy father and mother" with the hopes that we recognize the opportunity to reflect the face of God through how we respond to our circumstances. We are given the opportunity to live up to that legacy of royalty in the name of Christ Jesus the King.
Jesus, himself, was buried under a mountain of circumstances but chose to be obedient even unto death. Through that, God the Father raised him to new life where He is now exalted and sat down at the right hand of God.
James and John, self centered as they were, said "Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory." (Mark 10:37) Jesus responded by saying "You don't know what you're asking." Had they fully known the cost of following, I dare say they wouldn't have been so quick to say "Yes." Nevertheless, they did follow and the cost was ultimate. Spiritually, they died to themselves existing only to worship the King. Their physical death was purely part of the process. Even in that, they worshipped and they got more than they knew they were asking.
Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to forsake all for the sake of the call? Who are you? What is your birthright? Coward or King?....
Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to forsake all for the sake of the call? Who are you? What is your birthright? Coward or King?....
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