On my way home from my walk one morning, when I was about 150 yards away from my house, I could see my dog Archie in the front yard, wagging his tail, waiting on me to get to our yard. But, as I passed by our across-the-street neighbor’s house, I saw their dog Pete come out to the fence to greet me. So, I detoured slightly from my path to talk to Pete for a minute and pet him. Then, my next-door-neighbor’s Yorkies barked at me, as if to say, “Aren’t you gonna say hi to us, too?” So, I walked back across the street to greet them, and love on them a little bit. Then I headed toward our house.
Archie sat there patiently waiting on me, and as I got closer I wondered if he might have felt betrayed by me for petting the other neighborhood dogs. So, when I got to our driveway, I gave him my reassuring words, “There’s my boy! I loved on those other dogs, but you’re different from them…. YOU’RE MINE!” I proceeded to show Archie special attention, petting on him and rubbing his belly. If ever he doubted his special place in my heart, the doubts were gone!
As I sat there loving on my dog, I couldn’t help but thank the Holy Spirit who shows us the beauty of our relationship with the Maker of the Universe. Yes, God loves the whole world. He loves the people of the world so much that He sent His only Son to die for them. But, for those who receive Him into their lives, there is a level of relationship experienced that is quite special. He says to them, “YOU’RE MINE.”
Isaiah 43:1
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; YOU ARE MINE!”
