Lion-like Boldness, Lamb-like Gentleness

All of us are imbalanced people.  None of us stays on the horse.  I believe it was Luther who pictured man as a drunk who is always falling off the horse.  Some fall to the right, some to the left.  But no one stays on the horse.  Except one.

The Lord Jesus combines in his person diverse excellencies.  He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah, with supreme royal majesty and power and dignity.  He is also the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  Only in Christ Jesus do we meet such diverse excellencies, as Edwards pointed out in a famous sermon on Rev. 5:5-6.  We see this almost paradoxical conjunction of excellencies in the Lord Jesus in the Gospels.  There we see a man tough and tender, bold and meek, mighty and merciful, lofty and lowly.  And it is only by beholding this one in faith that we begin to reflect according to our capacities something of the beautiful balance, proportion, and symmetry that do meet in the lovely Lord Jesus.  Beholding him we are being transformed from one level of glory to another, a glory that reflects the glory of the one after whose image all of redeemed humanity is being refashioned (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:9-10). 

I sometimes almost totally despair of becoming a balanced Christian.  I long to be tough when I should be tough, tender when I should be tender.  My soul pants after boldness and gentleness in the proper proportion, deployed in the right places and at the right times.  And my only hope is beholding Christ--steadfastly.  Gazing at the brightness of his radiant excellencies, his glory and majesty, alone can transfrom a piece of work like me.  So I am persuaded that seeking lion-like boldness and lamb-like gentleness, therefore, should be undertaken not by holding up a list of rules or commandments (at least not mainly).  Such transformation ought to be pursued by sitting at Jesus' feet, beholding him steadfastly by faith, following the Lamb faithfully wherever he goes, listening to his voice intently at all times and in all places. 

Oh to see more and reflect more of him!  Oh to be lion-like and lamb-like!  Do the supernatural work, O sovereign Lord, for it is to you that I pray, in Jesus' strong name and for Jesus' great name's sake.