Lessons from the Leash

            My wife and I are delighted with our new puppy.  He is a little black pug named Frankie.  We are enjoying the love and companionship he brings into our lives.  We both take turns taking him for little walks outside.  We use a leash to keep him safe and focused.  Several times he has attempted to go his own way.  He wants to chase other dogs, Muscovy ducks, and people walking down the street.  He has 20 feet till he comes to the end of his leash, and we tug him back into safety.  Without the leash, Frankie would get into a lot of trouble.

We as God’s people tend to stray and get ourselves into trouble also.  We want to get out of the yard and follow the siren sounds of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  I am so thankful that we have an internal leash.  It is called the Holy Spirit.  Galatians 5:16-18 gives us some great advice: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”.  As we live our daily lives we are to walk in the Spirit.  This means we are to develop the daily habit of a continual obedience. The indwelling Spirit guides us in the way we should go.  He also leads us with those internal nudges.  When Frankie starts to head for the road, I just give him a gentle nudge to get him back in the yard.  The Spirit not only tugs us away from sin He often nudges into opportunities for service.

God desires to direct His children.  He desires for us to learn lessons from the leash.  He wants us to learn to walk in the Spirit.  He pulls us away from sin, and He leads us into fruitful service.  Let us wait in obedience and expectation for the Spirit’s gentle nudges.