“I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.” Job 23:12  NLT

Famous enjoys his daily meal. It does not usually last very long, and there is rarely anything left behind. I have been told when I am away, he may refuse to eat for a day or two. This may be due to a change in his normal routine, but I like to think he misses my company.

We have pictures of our food on social media. What if we were just as passionate about sharing the daily bread that comes to us from God?

Give us this day our daily bread.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20  NLT

This is the story of the door bell. Once learned by Famous that the ringing of the door bell meant someone was at the door, he would always begin barking at the sound of its clear bell tone. Interestingly, the bell stopped working after a couple of years on its own and friends started to knock on the door with the same reaction from Famous. But once the intruder became the guest, Famous was happy to receive them as no longer a stranger (as long as he remained the center of attention.) I have not been inclined to repair the bell for obvious reasons, even though I have a newly purchased door bell which I could install at any time. For now, Famous is door bell enough.

Obedience to God comes to us as an invitation, not an enslavement. Fellowship with Christ depends on our willingness to listen for his tapping on our hearts and celebrating his presence in our lives, much as Famous celebrates the arrival of guests to our home.

This is the day to be home when Christ comes to call.

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7  NLT

On a recent early evening walk, Famous started down a neighbor’s sidewalk. Street lights had turned on and it was difficult to see the details on the ground. He is always sniffing the ground, so I did not think much of him stopping over an object in the middle of the sidewalk. But then considering he might try to eat something dead left behind by a cat, I pulled him away and shone a light on the sidewalk. There was a small snake coiled up and ready to defend itself if Famous came near again. I pulled him closer to me, instructing him to leave the snake alone. By the time we had returned from our walk, the snake was gone.

We may not realize the evil that is around us everyday, evil that could harm us or detract us from God’s path. Rather than thinking we could never be tempted, we should start each day with a prayer for God’s protection and guidance.

Today, Father, direct my steps from harm and evil. 

“Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.” Job 6:24  NLT

As a puppy Famous would often mischievously run off with a sock, chew on a chair leg, or sneak human food if left within reach. These cute but destructive behaviors would be met with a stern reprimand and instructions on how he could remedy the situation. I would ask him to drop his prize or stop refinishing the furniture. His obedience would then be met with a reward of praise. (And I will admit the occasional treat was used to reinforce the good response.)

We should be careful not to assume all of our actions are in God’s will. If we wear our Christianity without scrutiny, we can become guilty of using our so-called faith for our own purposes. We will say immoral actions are to be forgiven and others are to be punished for our advantage. To obey God we must be willing to allow his Holy Spirit to correct us when we are wrong.

Forgive me, Father, when I have furthered my own purposes over Your own. Teach me to always seek Your direction.

 

“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” Hebrews 13:16  NLT

The reward system has worked well for me as a means to encourage Famous to obey me. Even just the mention of a treat can command his attention. But treats are not always readily available, so an alternative might be scratching his back or a full blown belly rub. But the easiest reward to give is simple, heartfelt praise. If we are on a walk far from the treat jar, then I look for opportunities to simply let him know how pleased I am if he follows my command. He has earned a “good boy!” if he turns with me or sits before crossing the street.

This Hebrews passage reminds us God expects us to honor him with our actions and not with mere lip service. We can fill the pews of church, but God’s pleasure comes when we take our praise-filled hearts and become the church in the world.

My prayer today, Lord, is for You to remind me it is my duty to do good and to serve those in need rather than seeking my own selfish desires.

“Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.” Acts 24:16  NLT

How does Famous know if he is doing the right thing? In part, he knows because he is keeping the communication open between us. If asked to stay, he will watch me until I am out of sight to see if he gets new instructions. If asked to guess which of my hands holds the treat, he comes forward to sniff each until he makes a selection. Each day gives him new opportunities, some routine, some unrehearsed, to hear my voice and obey.

How do I know if I am obeying God’s voice? First and foremost, I have to ask myself did I listen? Then, did I do everything  in my power to try to follow God’s path or do what I know to be right? Or did I ignore God and even disobey Him? In regards to service to both God and dog, I try to weigh my actions against the communication that I have sought to understand. The peace that comes from knowing this is the path I try to maintain day by day is a reward in itself.

Teach me, Lord, to be willing to trust Your ways. Then open my heart and my mind to accomplish all that You ask.

“And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” I John 2:17  NLT

There is something eternal about those still moments in the fall. Perhaps it is the gratitude for having come through another year. There is a peace that comes as the outside world shows signs of slowing down, and there is the awe of knowing the cycle of life will bring an end to majestic and lovely things until the time comes for life to be renewed again.

In those still times I enjoy praising Famous for being my companion and reflecting on everything we have done this past year, knowing there will be a time when we both will also cease to live. It gives me the opportunity to feel nature’s rhythm and slow down my own sense of urgency. It might inspire me to take Famous on an extra long walk through the woods or indulge in an early evening cup of tea sitting on the deck with him by my side.

He brings me joy knowing it is in his nature to be with me. And it brings me to the awareness that my life must be spent pleasing God and to make that quest the nature of my existence.

God, may I forever be pleasing in Your sight by doing Your will today and always.

“Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.”  Isaiah 55:6  NLT

Most days when I drive home and pass the front of my house, I can look through the window shutters and see the white stripe of Famous’ head as he watches out for my return. I do not know if he has spent the entire day there, but it brings up an excellent point about our obedience to God.

Obedience to God requires patience. But patience is not passive waiting on God. Even if we are not physically active, we can seek to accomplish all that God has already instructed us to do until by his grace He gives us new directions.

Make even my prayers an active form of waiting for You.

“Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.” I Kings 2:3  NLT

It is said there is a golden rule for dog training. For each command, there is only one correct reaction. How disappointing it would be to tell Famous to lie down only to see him run away or start barking. Or if telling him to get his leash, he brought me a toy instead.

I may try to always have his best interest at heart, but I am certain God holds the best future for all of us. We should not mistake his commands, nor should we interpret his commands to fit our purposes. At the end of each day we should only begin to have peace if we have worked to understand God’s commands and carried them out to the best of our abilities.

Almighty God, teach me the singular path of living in Your commandments. 

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”  Acts 5:32  NIV

How much do we miss out on if we are not obeying the will of God?

I think of all the plans for mountain hikes, walks through the park, beach trips, and car rides with Famous over the years. He is always a willing participant, eager to go where I go. But he could not possibly fathom the extent of some of those journeys on his own. And if he were not obedient to commands for his safety and social etiquette, many of those plans could not be realized.

People often ask, “Where is God?” when He has been there all along waiting for them to listen to his voice. Without obedience to God we cannot witness the great things He has planned for us.

Help me to choose today to be an active listener with an open heart to Your commands, O God, so that I might witness all You have prepared for me.