DOGGY DOOR

Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. Hosea 5:4 (NIV)

The doggy door is a wonderful invention. With it you never have to get up and let the dog out. The dog has the freedom to walk in or out whenever he/she has the desire. He/she sees a squirrel that needs a good barking at, out the doggy door they go. They want to check the status on a bone they buried yesterday, out the doggy door again. Bored and needing something new to sniff, out the doggy door once more. The only drawback I can see is when they decide to bring something that belongs outside in. Have you ever seen a dog try to bring an oversized thing through the doggy door? Entertaining! They come charging for the door, so confident they’ll clear it only to be stopped dead in their tracks by the oversized object in their mouth. They try it again and again--sideways, harder, pulling it in--nothing works. At that point a decision must be made--either stay outside or go inside alone. Food, family, and the warm comfy doggy bed are inside. Inside normally wins out.

What does this have to do with us? One key word in today’s verse: DEEDS. What will you do with your deeds? Your wrong deeds cannot fit through the doggy door into God’s presence. They must be surrendered. Oh, you can try: sideways, push harder, pull it in, but wrong deeds repel God. So at that point you must decide: either stay outside of God’s presence or go inside alone. God’s provision, His fellowship, and resting in Him are all inside. I say forget the wrong deeds!