Daily Devotional For Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family tells the true story about when he was around 13-years-old, his family adopted the most wonderful dog in the world. They named him Penny. Penny was smart and obedient. He loved everybody, and everybody loved him. But when Dr. Dobson went off to college and his parents moved, and his  family reluctantly decided to give Penny away to another family. 

After a while, Penny decided that Dr. Dobson’s father wasn’t coming back. The dog began to grieve. In fact, he seemed to give up on life, and before long, arthritis and other problems left him paralyzed. But Dr. Dobson’s father heard about and decided he had to do something about Penny’s sad state.

Dr. Dobson’s father drove 700 miles to bring Penny home. He found their dog curled up in a little ball, unable to move. But Penny’s tiny stub of a tail thrashed wildly when he saw his master. Remarkably, with the love and attention his parents began to shower on him, Penny recovered. Within two weeks of returning home, Penny was running and jumping. He lived eleven more years without another sign of arthritis!

This story about Dr. Dobson's family dog reminds us that if even a mutt needs love and encouragement to stay alive, then so does every human being on the face of the earth. We are social beings, designed to depend on God and each other. Yet some of us are curled up in a pitiful little ball of discouragement. Every day we have the power to bring life by giving encouragement to others--or we can ignore their needs and think only of ourselves. 

The Bible says this in Romans 15:5, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had” (NLT). Love is the most powerful emotion on this planet. Why? 1 John 4:8, 16, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love . . . (16) God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (NLT).

I love how Colossians 3:14 puts it, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (NLT). What an awesome picture — clothing ourselves with love. We live in world that is critical, negative and condemning. God’s family should be known for our love for each other according to Jesus in John 13:34-35. Jesus said this is how the lost, the unsaved, or the world will know we are His.

When you find yourself in an argument with a family member or a disagreement with another Christian, clothe them in the love of Jesus. Who this week could you reach out to that maybe feels abandon by you as Penny the dog did with her family? Who this week could you through love put life back into them emotionally and spiritually? Reach out. Send a text. Make that phone call. Visit them. If love can heal a dog named Penny with arthritis and put life back into her, what do you think your love for the lonely, the abandoned, the forgotten will do for them? The choice is yours.

Love you, Pastor Kelly

Verse to Meditate On: John 13:34-35, “Jess said, `So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other’” (NLT).

Prayer to Pray: “Dear Jesus, there are times I do not clothe myself with Your love. I can be moody, grumpy and irritable. You intentionally put people in my path to love them as You do regardless of who they are or what they have done. Just as You choose to love me when I sin, fail, make mistakes, turn my back on You, motivate me to do to others as You do to me — love them. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”