GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 7
GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 7 ~ ~ Job 12:10 ~ ~ “In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
and the breath of all mankind?”
When you see this picture, was your first thought, “photoshopped”? But it isn’t. It’s a real created creature. It’s a Chinese Water Deer. Water deer are relatively small animals. They only measure about 2 – 3 feet long, and their shoulder height is 18 – 22 inches, and weighs 20-30 pounds.
Did God make a mistake, and grow their antlers out of their mouth? These deer has no antlers, but grows long fangs! There are several other known deer species and subspecies that have fangs, three of the species being the tufted deer, muntjac and musk deer.
From a distance, the water deer look like normal deer, but on closer examination, we see that they have rounded ears, are fuzzier, and have a more stocky build than the sleek, slender deer that we’re used to. Their heads are more rounded, with no antlers.
They look stocky, not because of excess weight, but because of muscle. They have longer back legs than their front legs, raising their back end up slightly, with heavy rump muscles, which allows them to rather hop than run, almost like a rabbit.
Where they shine is in the water! (thus, the name). That’s why they love their area, around China and Korea, where they can rapidly swim the channels, powered by their strong rump muscles. While they’re mostly in Asia, they can be seen in France, Argentina, England and parts of the United States.
They are territorial, and mark and fight during the breeding season, much like the white tail and others, but instead of fighting with antlers, they fight with their teeth. When they are relaxed, it is hard to even see the teeth, which are barely sticking straight down through their lips, well out of the way for eating. But when threatened, or aggressive, they pull back their mouths in such a way that the teeth stick straight out like a vicious two-pronged fork!!! They poke and tear at their opponents, causing a lot of damage, because the teeth are sharper than antlers.
Even the females will use them to drive away other females from their young after giving birth. Their fangs are less than an inch long, while the males average 3 inches. Considering the small size of the deer itself, that is a formidable weapon.
God didn’t give us weapons on our bodies to protect ourselves from satan’s lies. He gave us His Word.
Satan will back down immediately when the properly applied, “it is written” is thrust at Him by a true believer. That’s why we must spend time in the Word to know what promises apply.
Instead of fangs, we have the full armour of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. …”
But, remember, just using the Word of God without being born again, and living a life of obedience, submission and worship, will not yield the power of God. The devil knows the difference. There is no shortcut that will replace a lifetime of obedient living in the power of the Spirit.
Live in the Light of Our Lord 