A Lesson From A Golden Retriever

Most of you probably know that we have a golden retriever. She is almost five years old and her name is Angel. Just in case you were wondering, she was already named when we got her. She likes to be around people, but after a while, she will usually go and lay down with one of her toys in her mouth. On Monday, however, she was especially clingy—she wanted to be where ever I was. If she wasn’t standing up, hoping to be petted, she lay at my feet. For whatever reason, she wanted to be especially close to me that day.

Maybe it’s a far stretch for an illustration, but it reminded me that God wants us to remain close to Him at all times. He gave us His Word to study, so that we might know Him better and learn to live life as He intended it to be lived. He gave us prayer, and taught us how to use it, so that we could remain in regular, or better yet, constant, communication with Him. He gave us music, so we could sing to Him and be reminded of who He is. He also gave us a new family—brothers and sisters in Christ—who come along side and help us grow in our walk with God.

I hope that, today, you will make a conscious choice to draw near to God. So often, we get busy and don’t even think about it. But, with the Spirit’s help, we can stay near to God even through the business. I trust that these passages will encourage you today:

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:8a Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker