Craig Clouston

When the Master Speaks

To call people … to the obedience that comes from faith.
Romans 1:5

Steve and Becky love their dog, Dakota. Steve is the disciplinarian; Becky is the softie. Steve demands Dakota’s obedience; Becky spoils and dotes on him.
One day, Becky called Steve at work to tell him that Dakota refused to get into the bathtub for his weekly bath. He refused to move from his comfy pillow bed. Steve told Becky, “Put the dog on the phone.”
“What?” Becky said incredulously.
“Put the dog on the phone,” Steve reiterated. “I want to talk to him.”
So Becky took the wireless phone to where Dakota was defiantly lounging, and holding his floppy ear out of the way, she held the receiver close enough for the dog to listen.
Steve gave one simple command, “Dakota, go get in the tub now!” And with that, he rose from his bed and went straight to the bathroom. He hopped into the tub and waited for Becky to bathe him.
Astonished, Becky asked, “How did you do that?”
“Simple,” Steve answered. “Dakota knows who his master is. He knows I mean him no harm and would not tell him to do something unless it was important. When he heard me speak, he knew he could either obey and things would go well, or he could disobey, where there would be a consequence. He remembers the rewards he has received for his obedience and the consequences he’s paid for disobeying. He simply made an informed choice.”

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What a perfect example of unquestioning obedience! Steve, in his authority, asked Dakota for obedience. Dakota, wanting to please his master, chose to obey—a perfect metaphor of what God wants for His children.
But generally we are not as quick to respond. We demand explanations for why we should obey. We question God’s motives instead of immediately submitting to His request.
Only through faith can we come to a place in our relationship with God where we trust Him enough to respond immediately, regardless of His command. And only through experience will we discover that He will never harm us or ask us to do anything without a divine purpose.

Prayer

“Show me the way to unquestioning obedience, Lord. Help me put my trust where it needs to be—in You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”