DANGER AHEAD!



There is a house a few blocks from ours. It sits across from the local park on a corner lot. The owners have two dogs, who recently gave birth to puppies, so there is a fence on the yard housing these puppies. They are so adorable...cute brown skin, playful as can be. My children love to ride their bikes up to the house and play with the puppies through the fence.

Today as I approached that corner on my way to work, I noticed a woman walking her little poodle. They were across the road walking on the path in the park. As I stopped to let them cross the street in front of my car, the poodle noticed the puppies. He saw three dogs just across the way and this little tiny white poodle realized that his owner was leading him right into the path of these other dogs.

The leash became tight. The poodle dug his heels in and with all the might he had, he made the non-verbal statement saying, I AM NOT GOING NEAR THOSE OTHER DOGS!

The owner yanked. She tugged. She pulled. I couldn't hear her, but I noticed her mouth moving as she probably gave a stern direction to the little poodle.

The poodle was not budging. Heels dug in. Weight on back legs. I AM NOT GOING NEAR THAT DANGER!

The owner had more strength and began dragging the poodle across the street, in front of my car, toward the puppies, who of course were barking like crazy at the little poodle. Heels dug in, pulling back with all his might, the poodle was literally drug across the street.

It got me thinkin...as Christians, we have to be like the little poodle. We have to be able to sense danger before we ever get to it. We have to dig in our heels, put our weight down and say, "I AM NOT GOING DOWN THAT PATH!"

And, I was thinkin...the owner, the one pullin the leash could represent Satan. He is up for the fight. He wants to win. He wants us to take the path toward danger. He will drag us across the street if he can...into sexual immorality, into overeating, into harsh words with those we love, into gossip...he will take a tight leash and tug.

Today...be the poodle! Although we are small, our God is great! Stand firm in your faith my sister. Dig in your heels against Satan and don't budge. Put up a fuss...bark and sit on your hind legs! Don't go across the street to the danger!