“Kati, sit! … Kati, sit! … Come on, Kati, sit!” Our one-year-old puppy/dog has beautiful eyes that will melt your heart with a simple glance. She has learned to sit, stay, lie down, select which hand I’m hiding her treat in, “go get a toy,” and multiple other little tricks. She’s gobs of fun, and well, sometimes we think she may be gifted. (hee-hee)

And then there are the moments like these, when I break the rules of proper training and say my command repeatedly, each time a little louder, as if her hearing is the problem.

It isn’t.

Cute little puppy-girl has an attitude.

Though I never had children of my own, I’m pretty sure I’m relating to mothers of toddlers a little better these days. Let’s just say that my husband, Joe, says it best when he calls her a little “rascal angel!”

As I stood there this morning repeating the simple command that was for her own good and that was going to end in her receiving a treat if and when she obeyed, it was as if, God, in a loving tone, said, “Ahem, Brenda,” and pointed His heavenly index finger at my dog’s unwillingness to obey.

“Oh my heart, Joe. She’s me. And this must be how God feels!”

How often do I read a command in the Bible and ignore it over and over and over again until I feel good and ready to obey it?

“But I don’t want to love my neighbor as myself.” “I don’t want to be kind.” “I don’t want to seek the Lord with all my heart.” In other words, “I want what I want, and I’m just going to look away, as if I don’t hear.”

“But God…!” God—rich-in-mercy God—patiently, lovingly, and for our good continues to teach us that His commands are not there to be mean to us. God is never mean! No, friend, His Words are there to guide us, to protect us, to correct us when we’re wrong, to show us that He loves us enough to say no…and yes.

And just like we do with Kati, God blesses us for following His commands. Sometimes our reward for Kati’s obedience is merely a “good girl, Kati!” Sometimes it’s her favorite bacon-flavored treat. The ultimate goal is for her simply to obey, whether there is a tangible reward or not. Why? Because Joe and I know what is best for her.

Did you hear that? I think God just said, “Ahem,” again….

For further reading:

Ephesians 2:4-8, ESV — “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

I John 5:2-4, NASB — “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.”