Category: Dogs

  • Faith and Works: Resting in the Balance God Designed 

    Border collies don't understand faith or rest - but they sure work hard

    There is a weird tension in Christianity between faith and works. The bible is abundantly clear that we are saved by faith

    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

    At the same time, there is clearly a tie between grace and works.

    What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself. James 2:14-16

    We find ourselves dithering like an anxious border collie with no sheep to guard. We settle into grace for a moment, but never quite relax. We fall into works mode for a time in the vain hope that it will please God more somehow, if we earn our salvation. We know something should be happening; we were designed to work, but we’re not sure how.

    We go back and forth, seldom settling into a healthy balance.

    Our works are done out of faith, not to give us faith. Our self-motivated works are bound to fail and are, in fact, sin. This text from Paul to the church in Rome is in the context of eating certain foods, but it illustrates a principle.

    The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23

    The first step is to prioritize our relationship with Jesus. We seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). 

    We remember to rest and make time for the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-10).

    Consider that all we do is working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).

    Our good works flow out of our relationship with the Lord; they don’t cause it. He saved us without works on our part, and He holds us in relationship.

    Prioritize that relationship, let the rest flow naturally. Sometimes we need to reset, but that always comes by time with Him.

    Rest comfortably in the Lord, my dear friends.

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    If salvation is by faith, “Why good works?”

    SUMMARY


    The tension between faith and works often leaves Christians oscillating between striving and resting, never fully settling in either. The key is to prioritize our relationship with Jesus — good works flow naturally out of that relationship, not the other way around.

    TAKEAWAYS

    We are saved by grace through faith alone, yet genuine faith produces good works

    Self-motivated works done apart from faith are sin; works must flow from our walk with Christ

    The solution is to seek first His kingdom, rest in Him, and let the works follow naturally

    Right Belief and Right Living are both important

    Who (or what) is the rock upon which we stand?

  • Determined – thoughts on the state of the world

    Jasper sitting at the base of a tree he chewed

    This is Jasper, a border collie-maremma cross. His temperament is by far more maremma than collie. he is very determined. He lived with us when we had the acreage, but when we moved to the city, he and Misty, the border collie, moved to a friend’s farm, where they live happily today.

    Border collies are hyperactive herding dogs that seem to have to work to live. Maremmas are livestock guard dogs that are content to lie on a raised area, surveying their kingdom and flock with regal authority until danger arises. Then watch out.

    Jasper is a master at regally surveying his domain until danger arises. Unless there’s a squirrel. A squirrel throws a switch in his brain, and he just must get them. Then he thinks he’s a hunting dog crossed with a beaver. 

    You can see from the picture that he has a squirrel treed and is determined to bring it down. Yes, he gets so excited that he gnaws the tree. 

    That’s determination…or madness.

    There’s a lot of that sort of determination come madness in the world. The world is determined to dethrone God and do whatever it wants. That’s bad enough, but they want everyone else to celebrate the insanity.

    What is evil is now considered normal, even virtuous, by many.

    The Bible has some thoughts on that subject. The prophet Isiah was inspired by God to write on the subject 2800 years ago.

    Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work  that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!  Isaiah 5:18-23

    Paul opened his epistle to the church in Rome by talking on the subject (it’s worth taking a moment to read Romans 1 in full).

    For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Romans 1:20-23

    Such people are under the wrath of God. Still, there is hope they will see the light and turn back before it’s too late.

    Our job isn’t to hate or judge these people; it’s to love them. Loving them doesn’t mean that we accept or follow their view, but it does mean that we pray for them, meet their needs when we can, and treat them as our neighbours.

     We, too, were lost in our sin and enemies of God at one point, and in His mercy, He reached down and saved us. Let’s pray He does the same even for those we might consider our enemies.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Consider these posts

    General Revelation: Why No One Can Claim They Didn’t Know

    The gospel – great news

    Herded – an old border collie reminds me of the truth

    Close to the master