Companionship
I laughed as I read a Facebook post of an actual police report that looked like it was written by a child. It was supposedly an Officer Peach and he wrote, "I chase. I bite. Bad man. Taste good. Good dog. Good Peach." The description said that Officer Peach was a canine officer and the department insisted on getting a report from him so his handler wrote the report as noted above and inked a paw print on the signature line.
Of course, in reality, we don't know what our dogs are thinking, but I felt God gave me an insight about this relationship between wo(man) and dog the other day. As I sat on the patio drinking my coffee, my dog jumped up and sat next to me on the padded bench. I was praying to God about how to best be in relationship with Him and a picture came to mind.
I looked over at my dog and realized she doesn't know me. What she knows is that I feed her, provide her with shelter, offer her safety and companionship. She doesn't know my occupation, hobbies, past hurts or failures, nor does she care about any of these issues. These issues are mine and don't concern her and the relationship we have together.
This made me realize that I don't really know God. I know he provides me with food, clothing, housing, and safety. But what about companionship? God knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb, so it isn't that He doesn't know me or that He doesn't care about me and my issues. It's that I don't know Him and don't take the time to know and understand His issues and concerns.
Yes, I read my Bible, do Bible studies and pray. But how often do I settle down next to Him and rest near Him? Companionship is a comfortable relationship that is established over time through trust, loyalty, and intentional time spent in the presence of another. To be in companionship with God, I need to know Him and His character like He knows me.
Of course, in reality, we don't know what our dogs are thinking, but I felt God gave me an insight about this relationship between wo(man) and dog the other day. As I sat on the patio drinking my coffee, my dog jumped up and sat next to me on the padded bench. I was praying to God about how to best be in relationship with Him and a picture came to mind.
I looked over at my dog and realized she doesn't know me. What she knows is that I feed her, provide her with shelter, offer her safety and companionship. She doesn't know my occupation, hobbies, past hurts or failures, nor does she care about any of these issues. These issues are mine and don't concern her and the relationship we have together.
This made me realize that I don't really know God. I know he provides me with food, clothing, housing, and safety. But what about companionship? God knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb, so it isn't that He doesn't know me or that He doesn't care about me and my issues. It's that I don't know Him and don't take the time to know and understand His issues and concerns.
Yes, I read my Bible, do Bible studies and pray. But how often do I settle down next to Him and rest near Him? Companionship is a comfortable relationship that is established over time through trust, loyalty, and intentional time spent in the presence of another. To be in companionship with God, I need to know Him and His character like He knows me.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
His love captured me. Yet there are days I can go without spending time with Him and wonder where the strength is. It's in the joy of The Lord. I want to know Him better and I want to be found doing His will, even when no ones watching. Even in the privacy of my house. Thank you Kate for stoking the fire.
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