It's time for today's Our Daily Bread Devotional.

The writer for today is James Banks, and the reading is titled Lion, Lamb, Savior.

Two stately stone lions watch over the entrance to the New York Public Library.

Hewn from Marble, they've stood there proudly since the library's dedication in 1911.

They were first nicknamed Leo Lennox and Leo Aster to honor the library's founders. But during the Great Depression, New York's

mayor, Fiorello, LaGuardia renamed them Fortitude and Patience, virtues he thought New Yorkers

should demonstrate in those challenging years. The lions are still called fortitude and patience

today.

The Bible describes a living, powerful lion who also gives encouragement and trouble and is known by other names. In his vision of heaven, the Apostle John wept when he saw

that no one was able to open the sealed scroll containing God's plan of judgment and redemption.

Then John was told in Revelation chapter 5, do not weep. See, the lion of the tribe of Judah

has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Yet in the very next verse, John describes something

else entirely. Then I saw a lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center

of the throne. The lion and the lamb are the same person. Jesus, he's the conquering king

and the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Through his strength and his cross, we receive mercy and forgiveness so that we may live in joy and wonder at all he is forever.

Now let's be encouraged by God's word.

It's from Revelation, Chapter 5, verses 1 through 7.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with riding on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel, proclaiming in a loud voice, who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no one in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth could open the scroll

or even look inside it. I wept and wept because

no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to

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