Object lessons - 5 minute devotionals to give - Shock Collars

 This is my first endeavor into sharing devotions to give at Upwards games, post or pre dinner for groups, kid's sermons, etc. I have been doing these for a while and I always forget them when the time comes so my wife said "you have a gift, you need to save these and share these." What an encourager she is! So here goes my first and gotta' warn you - PETA will hate it!

      

This is a picture of a shock collar that we have for our dog, Lottie. Lottie is a 6.5 pound malte-poo that needs doggie Ritalin. She barks like crazy at visitors, other dogs, vehicles - basically everything that other dogs bark at, only more. It is in the nature of a dog to do this. It is harmless. Check out this hilarious youtube video   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T9qiGCq5sk . (If you have access to a collar you might dare someone in the audience to put it on and try it)

So why did we get it for our dog, to punish her? No! It is to train her. The problem is kids are afraid of her. The UPS guy runs as does the mailman. No one wants to dog sit for us, yet she is the nicest most loving dog who would never bite anyone. We wanted, for her own good, to have the ferocity diminished so people could appreciate and approach her which is really what she wants. We had to discipline, slightly painfully the "dog nature" to bring about a change in behavior that would benefit us, others, and her.

   I would guess you see the application. Read the following verses in Hebrews 12

  

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Our owner, God, loves us and wants us to become children that would reflect well on Him, and live a life that is truly life - a life of peace and righteousness. You see, God isn't punishing you when things go bad, He is disciplining you. Psalm 23:3,4 says "He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name sake" How does a shepherd lead sheep? By poking them; by swatting them. Why? To lead them to pasture - to bring them to the fold.

  Are you being shocked? God isn't doing it to get even or because He hates you. He loves you as a son or daughter. So learn from your shocks. Our dog only had to be shocked a couple times and now people pet her, feed her, throw the ball to her, hold her, and keep her. Good behavior is good for you and pleasing to your owner!