Morning Devotional

March 15, 2004

"On a Leash" 

by Don Emmitte

Home

"Yes," said Jesus, "how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden. (Luke 11:46 NLT).

I am so thankful for the peace and freedom that God has given me. That thought is even more vivid this morning after watching one of our neighbors walking their dog. Dressed in a tie for work he patiently waited for his animal to do the necessary things that dogs do on walks. The dog sniffed the grass, deposited some items, checked out a flower, and rolled in the grass. I realized how unlike a dog the dog was actually being. If the dog were not on the leash, it would be running, rolling, and dashing off.

I began to think of the necessity of the leash. A couple thoughts came to mind. Domestication for dogs in captivity is necessary. Domesticating a dog is training it to be a little less like a dog and a little more like a human. Domesticating is also training the human to be a little more mindful the dog has needs and is never going to be human. We as humans keep animals in an unnatural environment, mostly indoors, and in the box that we call home which is "our" comfort level. We want companionship at a level that is convenient for us which causes unnatural rules and behavior for the animals we keep.

Jesus blended into the common people and met them where they were bringing freedom to the captive. For people like a blind man at a city gate, a woman at a well, and a man that had been dead for three days Jesus gave them all they had ever wanted. From what we know of Jesus' daily life he had no set schedule, instead as He went about His day He gave the people that He came upon their hearts wants. Jesus did not have a special appearance but instead looked like those who were common. When was the last time that we gave someone their hearts desire simply because they asked for it? No leashes, no laws, no stipulations, only that which they want more than anything else and everything to carry out that desire. Have you received your hearts desire lately? I wonder if when we do things for people we do them with only our agenda and goals in mind. Is it that we only do for others so we get something out of it ourselves?

Look at Jesus’ message to the religious rulers of his time in our reading again. They were only thinking of themselves and not the people that they were serving. It is interesting that it was the common people who recognized Jesus for whom He was and the religious leaders, full of biblical knowledge who nailed Jesus to a cross. Is it possible for us to make an acquaintance with a person and our only motive being to serve them with what they need and want, never mentioning our position, our knowledge, or our needs? Meeting human needs was a daily activity that Jesus was consistent in and still is today. The religious leaders were full of book knowledge but when it came to meeting human needs, they crushed the people beneath religious demands but never willing to help. Will you be a person who becomes a common person not bound up in religious laws and controls and instead brings freedom to those who are in need of a miracle? Be a person who makes your daily activities meeting human needs, giving God glory through your serving.