Bark Less – Wag More

For those of you who are dog lovers like us in our household, you understand the meaning of the title above. We have a little 13 year old dog (Chewy), that understands what that is about. I honestly don't think she has ever met any person she doesn't like. She gets so excited when anyone comes to the house that not just her tail wags, but her whole backend wags. She can bark, but rarely does and never at people, cats and squirrels however, are a different matter, at those she will bark most excitedly.

I wish I could have a personality more like hers, to bark less and wag more. But, I also understand that sometime you have to identify the evil and speak out against it (or them), to bark a little, or a lot.

Our example in all things, Jesus Christ did that. He was loving and compassionate to most, but when evil raised its head, he didn't hesitate to speak out and call it, (or them), what it was; evil, sin, rebellion against God's clearly stated commandants. He even took violent action at one time against those who ignored the righteous instructions of God and brought sinful activities right into the temple, where worship was suppose to take place.

Bark less; wag more, what a difficult thing to do sometimes, yet that is part of the concept of having the mind of Christ in us. Christ gave up his own right to demand people bow down and worship him and gave mankind the option to refuse and reject him. If we had been in his place we probably would have been barking more and wagging less, but he didn't. If we had been in his place, we might have called down fire and brimstone upon most of the known world who rejected him, but he didn't. If we had been in his place, most likely we would have rejected even ourselves and those like us, who try to serve God, but still have secret sin and rebellion in our lives.

Jesus had one purpose in his life, Luke 19:10 tells us: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."  That was his purpose and he did that with more wag and less bark.

Why didn't he bark more, or just destroy the sinful world that rejected him? 2 Peter 3:9 explains it to us: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Maybe we should think a little more about God's desire for the world and the purpose he has for us, which is to carry his message of love to the whole world. A little more wagging and a little less barking may be what is needed.

Russ Lawson