April 13, 2020

Of dogs, man and God by Gary Rose



This picture answers the question: What do dogs think? Now, no one really knows what dogs think, but it does say something about their thoughts: They think in dog terms, not human. They can relate to muzzles being applied because they did something wrong (if in fact they even know right from wrong). In a way, this picture is nothing but foolishness (and a little foolishness is good when it brightens a dull day). But is it just foolishness? Dogs know the things of dogs and humans know those things which pertain to themselves. Dogs can only think with the limitations of their species and so do we “intelligent” humans. If dogs can misunderstand their surroundings and the meaning of their situation, so can we. Ask any man who has been married a long time if truly understands his wife and if he is honest he will say “NO”. Then ask him if he really understands God and just listen; the silence will be deafening. The Apostle Paul wrote:


1 Corinthians 2 ( World English Bible )
 [1] When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  [2] For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  [3] I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  [4] My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  [5] that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
  
[6] We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.  [7] But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,  [8] which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.  [9] But as it is written,

“Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man,
these God has prepared for those who love him.” 


[10] But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  [11] For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except God’s Spirit.  [12] But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.  [13] We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. [14] Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  [15] But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one.  [16] “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him?”  But we have Christ’s mind. 


Paul knew God in a way that almost defies comprehension. His study, his personal experiences and his spirituality led him to heights of comprehension that very, very few of us will ever know. More than that, he was guided by the Holy Spirit.

Now, you and I will never be a Paul, but we can understand what has been written and learn from it. One of the most basic things is that God loves you and the implications of that. Yet even that one thing is so marvelous that it really defies understanding. Paul quotes from Isaiah and says…
Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man,
these God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Lastly, I have but a statement and a question.
Notice the car ignition- its on.
Why would anyone leave a dog alone in a car with the motor running?
Humans, got to love them… God does!

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