"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16

Monday, September 20, 2010

Daily Bread: Dogged Devotion

The Daily Bread message on facebook today really spoke to me and I just wanted to share it. I don't have any thoughts to add right now, as I'm still pondering it myself, but whoever wrote this pretty much sums it up better than I ever could. I did change the names of the dogs to those of my own because it brought it closer to home.

Dogged Devotion

READ: John 15:9-17

"In Your presence is fullness of joy. - Psalm 16:22"

Sadie and Dusty don't care much for television. They would rather look out a window than stare at a small screen. Reading doesn't thrill them either. They have been known to "chew" on books, but only in the strictly literal sense. Nevertheless, they enjoy being with us. Sadie and Dusty are our very devoted dogs. More than anything (well, just about anything) Sadie and Dusty want to be with us.

The word dogged means "determined and persistent." These words describe Sadie and Dusty. They should also describe us. When we are devoted to God, we want to be with Him even when he's doing something that makes no sense to us. We may ask, "Why, Lord?" when He seems angry (Ps. 88:14) or when He seems to be napping (44:23), or when the wicked prosper (Jer. 12:1). But when we remain devoted to God despite our questions, we find fullness of joy in His presence (Ps. 16:11).

Jesus knew that we would have questions. To prepare us for them, He urged us to abide in His love (John 15:9-10). Even when God's ways are inexplicable, His love is reliable. So we remain doggedly devoted to Him.

Never should our love be just a word,
A passing phase, a brief emotion;
But love that honors Christ our
Lord Responds to Him with deep devotion. - Hess

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