30 May Fierce like a lion. Sweet like sugar.

Do you remember Tony the Tiger? Close your eyes and savor the first bite of this sweet, frosted, and flakey cereal.

They are grrreat! Right? I can hear Tony’s voice in the commercials for Frosted Flakes and see his arms swinging high with excitement and his eyes wide with enthusiasm!

When my kids were little, I wasn’t a big fan of cereals that were loaded with sugar. I would teach them to read the back of the box and if sugar was the first, second, or even third ingredient, it was a “no-go” for the Pajcic Household. 

Exception. 

When you are on vacation and too tired to make breakfast. Your kids rise early enough and sneak in to your sister’s kitchen only to discover Tony the Tiger. My sister, Cameron, was an eye-witness as she watched the scene unfold.

John John (age four) sits next to Winnie (age six) to eat his first bowl of “healthy.” Winnie looks at him with arms swinging high with excitement and eyes wide with enthusiasm and says, “John John, (pause) it looks like a lion … but it taste like sugar!”

• Side Note: Yes. Winnie was so confused by all the sugar she did think Tony was a lion.

I love this story! 

Jesus is a LION, too – filled with power yet filled with sugar. The good kind. 

“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness …The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” Psalm 145:3,8-9 (NLT)

Jesus is GREAT and most worthy of praise! He is our MIGHTY God.

He is also merciful and compassionate, patient, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. 

This sweet story intersects two of the most amazing characteristics of Jesus. 

He is fierce, but He is also forgiving.

Powerful yet patient.

Great yet gentle.

Conqueror of sin yet compassionate. Majestic yet merciful.

Holy yet humble.

Fierce as a lion and sweet like sugar.

Tony, you have competition, my friend.

Unlike Tony, I give my kids permission to sit every morning at the breakfast table with Jesus and contemplate His power and sweetness. 

And if you need to read the back of His cereal box, you will find the first ingredients are:

• 100% God. Powerful. Almighty King. Savior of your soul. 

No sugar rush. No crash and fall. He fills you with the same compassion, love, patience, and joy. 

Let’s get our dose of power and sweetness this morning.

Why?

Because He’s grrreat!