Before I got my dog, I remember praying that God would use him in my life to meet people and that he would be part of my ministry. Kind of a funny prayer, but I have met an incredible amount of people on my walks that I would never have met while walking alone. There is something about a cute dog with a 2 foot wagging tail that attracts people. I love it and continue to pray that God would use Silas to allow me to meet people who don't know Jesus.
In this prayer, however, I never thought the Lord would use him so deeply in my own life to show me a picture of Christ. Silas is a relatively good dog, he doesn't chew my belongings, doesn't use the bathroom in the house (unless we're at my parents), and he is super protective of me. One of our favorite things to do together is to walk. Each morning he runs down the front stairs, runs straight into the yard, uses the bathroom and then looks at me like "mommy, I'm ready to go now!"I hook him up and we are off. Although Silas loves our walks, he has a mind of his own. When a particular smell gets him, he is stubborn and fixated on finding out exactly what it is. He sometimes tends to wander into the busy street because the sound of something catches his attention. There is also a cute little duck couple that swim together in a pond that Silas always wants to drag me in to see. (Falling into a pond on a 30 degree morning is not my idea of fun...nor would it be for Silas if I actually allowed him to do so). All this to say, the leash and my wimpy strength are the only thing that keep Silas on the path.
As I was walking one morning, I realized how much my morning walks with Silas are so much like my own walk with God. All I want for Silas is that he would walk alongside me and keep in step with me. I want him to not get distracted by all that is going on on either side of the path, but I want him to trust me to know what's best for him. Silas has no idea that cars driving down the street at 40 miles per hour would tremendously hurt him or kill him. Or that licking something up on the sidewalk (usually outside of the Crossroads Bar in Downingtown) is probably not good for his stomach, seeing that it wasn't good for someone else's. Or that if we don't get his morning exercise, he is going to be a wild man all day while I'm at work and he is hanging out at home in the kitchen alone. Because I love him dearly and would do almost anything for him, I want him to trust me to know what's best for him. I pull the leash to gently guide him back to the path because I do know what's best for him.
This same idea is strikingly similar to my own walk with God. He loves me deeply and more than anyone or anything ever will. In Ephesians, Paul prays that the people would be able "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (3:18b-19). Most days, however, I walk in such a way that I think I know what's best for me. I get distracted by the ways and the things of the world that seem so much better than the path God has me on. I want to be financially stable and therefore I get jealous of people with high power jobs with six figure pay checks. I want to find some sort of value in worth in what I look like so I continually obsess about my appearance and what others must think of me. I want people to love me and appreciate me so I'm continually trying to earn the affection of others. I am constantly pulling on the leash into the street, under bushes, and into dangerous territory. In the same way that I gently pull the leash, God is doing the same. Through his words in scripture and his spirit within me, He reminds me often of the path he has called me to walk. Sometime I think I am fixated on a particular spot on my walk, not just for minutes, but for days, weeks and months. I wonder why God doesn't just leave me there. Doesn't he get tired of pulling the leash? Doesn't he get annoyed that we won't just COME ON! But that is not our God. He is committed to doing what he started in those who love him and know him. He is committed to being faithful to them, even when we are not faithful to him.
If you don't believe that God if faithful to his promises, just read the Old Testament. It is incredible to see over and over again the cycle of the Israelites and their relationships with God. You will be sure to see their fickleness and I guarantee if you were in charge, you would have thrown in the towel by now and picked someone else to fulfill the promise. But God doesn't! He gets angry sometimes and allows them to experience heartache and suffering, but he never leaves. And, he is always there waiting for them to run back into his arms! It's unreal. It's amazing! It's the gospel.
One of the fears in my life that I have begun to uncover in the past week is my fear of bringing my sin to the Lord. I fear that when I do, he will realize who I really am and want to throw in the towel. My bank account of grace for the same old thing will be over drafted. But, as I was reading a book this week, the author reminded me of this verse in scripture. Hebrews 7:25-27 says that "Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself". What I saw, maybe for the first time, is a picture of Jesus standing before the throne, continually absorbing the cost of my sin. His sacrifice was once and for all. It does not run out. I am amazed at the length that Christ went to to draw us into a relationship with himself. I long to understand what Paul meant in Ephesians about the depth, breadth, and length of Christ's love for me. I believe that my understanding in this truth will be life changing.
Each morning as I walk Silas, I am reminded of God's desire for me to walk in step with him. He has quite the adventure for us that is GOOD. He might lead us along some scary places, but He will be there to walk alongside us.
I'm excited to see what God will continue to teach me through my sweet puppy. I pray that you too would allow Jesus to teach you new things through people, pets, children, and friends in your life!
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