Despite fierce competition from crickets and coyotes, last year our CrossLife Christian Academy family voted on a mascot to represent us. We chose a lion. ROAR!
Have you heard the CrossLife lion call?
One student went home and growled at her family during dinner. This resulted in curious and concerned looks from mom and dad. Well, that probably came from her CrossLife pride (but be assured, we don’t teach students to growl at everybody all day).
Our CLCA parents who attend chapel on Wednesday mornings with their child hear the CrossLife lion call. Staff and student disciple-leaders stand on the stage and lead the entire CLCA family at chapel. It goes like this:
Leader: Who’s a lion?
CLCA family: I’m a lion! [point to self]
DJL: Who is Lord of the lions?
CLCA family: Jesus [point to heaven]
DJL: What do lions say?
CLCA family: ROAR!!! [pouncing paws]
Cute? Yes. Contagious? We hope so. Cognitively stimulating? Absolutely. But more than all that, our CrossLife lion call is Christ-focused and Bible-based. It embodies our CLCA mission:
Lions are courageous disciple leaders of Jesus who grow in faith, knowledge, skill, and character to impact the world.
Jesus is not a weak wimp who became an unwilling victim of his circumstances. Jesus courageously faced the cross. Jesus submitted to his Father as the sacrificial Lamb who substituted for us to pay for our sins in our place. Jesus cried tears of pain on the cross but three days later cried out in victory with a loud roar when he rose from the dead to conquer our enemies, fears and even death itself!
The Bible calls Jesus “the Lion” because he “has triumphed”(Revelation 5:5). Our CLCA family calls on our courageous Savior Jesus who reigns. That’s why we ROAR!
Following Jesus in faith as one of his disciples takes courage. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Our CLCA family is given courage by our ever-present and all-powerful Lord who is faithful. That’s why we ROAR!
And that makes us as strong, brave, courageous and top-of-the-food-chain over our spiritual enemies. That makes each of us, as a disciple of Jesus, “like a lion … mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing” (Micah 5:8, Proverbs 30:30).
Finally, like a full grown lion is able to protect others, including his family, because of his great strength and courage, so also courageous disciple leaders at CrossLife use our strength and courage to serve others and impact the world.
That’s why we ROAR!
PRAYER: Jesus, your courage and strength rules even over lions. I have nothing to fear when I trust in you. Thank you for courageously submitting to the cross, and then rising from the dead with a great roar! I want to follow you with divine courage. I want to ROAR! Amen.
FAITH ACTIVITY: Learn and practice the CrossLife lion call in your home.