Under the Same Mission

In the Lioness Arising series by Lisa Bevere, she talked about males and females in the Body of Christ recognizing our need for one another, the value we both bring to the table, and how we can unite our unique individual power in order to do life together. She used the quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to bring home the point: "Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another."

Let's look at how the lion and the lioness do life together and learn this example from nature so we can apply it to our own lives.

  • They each know their role in the pride so there are no gender issues.

  • The lionesses own the land and each pride holds a particular territory.

  • The pride lion fights in order to rule the pride that holds the territory he lives in.

  • Pride lions do not surround themselves with sickly, weak and passive lionesses.

  • It is not their intention to dominate the lionesses , but empower them. His protection empowers them.

  • They understand that the stronger the lioness, the stronger the legacy (their cubs).

  • Strong lionesses make him look better and establish his strength.

This relationship reminds me of that between the Virtuous Woman and her husband in Proverbs 31.

  • The word virtuous means: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army, ability, efficiency, force.

  • Sounds like a fierce lioness to me! Just like there is nothing weak about the lioness who owns the land and rules her territory, there is nothing weak about the virtuous woman who does the same with her household.

  • This word virtuous is the same word that is used in the character of good judges (Ex. 18:21 ): that they are able men, men qualified for the business to which they are called, men of truth, fearing God.

  • Verse 23 says that her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers (MSG). The Kings James says that he is known in the gates when he sits among the elders in the land. See what Matthew Henry says about this comment: Her husband is known in the gates, known to have a good wife. By his wise counsels, and prudent management of affairs, it appears that he has a discreet companion in his bosom, by conversation with whom he improves himself. By his cheerful countenance and pleasant humor it appears that he has an agreeable wife at home; for many that have not have their tempers strangely soured by it.

  • The husband married a strong woman and gained great rewards from it. A passive, weak and sickly woman would not have given him such great reputation in the city.

  • The virtuous woman and her husband did life together. Their individually fulfilled roles unified them. It showed them how their individual strengths brought life, happiness and prosperity to the family and those around them.

Does "Being Under the Same Mission" only apply to those who are married? No! What a powerful weapon this knowledge of being under the same mission is to the singles!

  • Like the lioness, we must realize that sickly (spiritually sick), passive and weak females do not attract the attention or the protection of a pride lion.

  • Like the lioness, we must ONLY mate with the strongest lion because that will make our children strong. If you never give birth to children, this still applies. Whatever fruit comes from your union will be as strong as the two of you are.

  • Lionesses only mated with pride lions because a pride lion knows his own strength and does not have to dominate others in order to appear strong. A rogue lion kills what is healthy in order to dominate.

  • A pride lion will not be threatened by your strength because your strength makes him look better.

Being under the same mission also means that we value our gender roles:

  • A lioness does not try to be like a lion and vice versa.

  • A lioness is a hunter and she realizes that if she were a lion, with a lions mane, she could not be an effective hunter and could not feed her family.

  • The differences between a lion and a lioness benefit all of them. The differences do not hinder them.

  • A lion does not try to hold a territory. There is only one of him. His job is to protect the lionesses from rogue lions so that they can hold the territory.

What is the lesson we can learn from this teaching? Learn what your mission is, walk in it and don't share it with anyone who cannot do the mission with you.

Let's do life together!