Yesterday afternoon, our dogs went nuts, barking at something they saw through the back windows. When Shannon stepped outside to see what the problem was, she saw a large dog running across our pasture. It had a collar with a long rope trailing behind. Shannon, being Shannon, immediately felt sorry for the dog and called it up to our house.
There was no information tag on the dog’s collar so we began to call our neighbors to see if anyone had lost a dog. None of them had. But Shannon, being Shannon, was not about to give up on this lost dog.
Our next move was to load this giant pit bull in the back of the truck and drive from farm to farm trying to find her owner.
Shannon sat in the bed of the truck with this very well trained dog as we trekked across Bell County. We met many people. None of them had lost a dog.
As it was getting dark, I wanted to take the dog back to our place, and if it was still there in the morning, I would take it to the shelter. Shannon was not going to have any part of that. So, me, being the man of the house, did exactly what my wife told me to do and I kept driving.
Eventually, after hours of searching, we found this lost dog’s home. I was very relieved she was safe and that Shannon had not let me give up. Shannon had refused to let the lost dog remain lost. This is where God and Shannon have a lot in common.
If you are lost, know that God will never give up until you are safe and sound at your true home. And God will go to any lengths to make this happen, even if it means sacrificing his Son. That’s how much God loves you. It’s about grace.
When the slave trader, John Newton, realized how lost he had become, he wrote the great hymn Amazing Grace. The first verse says:
“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.”
As Jesus passes through Jericho, he encounters one of the worst sinners in the Bible, sitting in a tree. Jesus sees a chance to save someone who is truly lost and he says to Zacchaeus: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
While you may feel lost, know that there is one who is desperately working to make sure you don’t stay that way. God will bring you home. All you have to do is let him.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for never giving up on me. Please take my hand and guide me home. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Our God will never give up until we are home. Praise God!
Also, just for the record, being married to a woman who never gives up can be a genuine pain in the tuchus. But that’s a devotional for another day.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 