Friday, March 7, 2025

Dogs and Romans    

Read: Romans 7:7-25

Having a rescue dog is interesting. I didn’t make her. I didn’t pick her out. I didn’t even go looking for a dog. Billie just showed up with us because somebody dumped her (?!). But I do love her.

As you probably know, Billie and I take pretty long walks every day (except when I’m out of commission and icing my ankle). She is a very smart dog. Sometimes “crafty” or “sneaky” would be a better description. On our walks, she’s always on the lookout for anything she can grab from the ground to eat. I’m sure there are people who see us coming and think, “There’s that guy who always tells his dog not to eat anything;” because I do. Despite my fairly constant admonitions, she still grabs stuff when I’m not able to stop her.

That’s when she gets told, “No! That’s bad! Be good, don’t be a bad dog! You know better!” I know she’s pretty smart, so I think she does know better, she just can’t help herself unless I’m reminding her that I’m watching.

If she really could think and reason, she’d probably echo Paul: 

I know the rules are from my Dad, but I’m just a dog, a creature of strong instinct. I don’t really understand what I’m doing – I want to be a good dog, but then I do what gets me in trouble, and I don’t like that. – Romans 7:14-15, CSV (Canine Standard Version)

I do want her to change, to stop doing things that may hurt her; and because I love her, I keep telling her “No,” and then forgiving her when she does bad stuff.

I think that’s how God sees me (and you):
“Don’t be bad, Charlie, be good! You know better!
“I love you, so I forgive you this time, just go, and from now on sin no more.”
    (see John 8:10-11)

Then the next time it’s the same thing again, just like Billie and me.

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, thank you for Your overflowing forgiveness, for Your endless Love, and for the ways we can learn of You from Your creation. In Your precious name, Amen.

Charlie van Becelaere

Prayer Focus: The dogs we love, and the lessons they teach us.