In the summer of 2008 we had an unexpected visitor come to our home. Our old Labrador Lady, went on her “daily” walk into the woods around our house, and came back with a companion. Her floppy-eared friend was a large dog with a reddish-brown coat, white chest, and white paws. Our parents did not want to add another dog to the existing pets we already had, so we were told not to go near him, that way he would be encouraged to look for another home. For days we attempted to ignore his beautiful brown eyes and floppy ears but he patiently sat by our front door. He refused to leave! He would just sit there quietly with those soft eyes asking to stay with us. No one knows when it happened, but Brutus soon became a beloved member of our family.

Not only did our family fall in love with him but soon the whole neighborhood fell for him as well. Very quickly, Brutus became the neighborhood “mascot.” He considered the neighborhood his and vice versa. Even though everyone in the neighborhood loved him, Brutus was loyal to his adopted family and every night he would come back to our home. Brutus loved us kids just as much as we loved him. When we would go outside, he would show up to either play or just keep an eye on us to make sure nothing bad happened. One day, my little cousin and younger sister went outside to play. We had not seen Brutus all day but when the girls went outside, Brutus suddenly appeared! He laid down where they were playing and kept a sharp eye on them. When the girls went back inside the house he disappeared again. When other stray dogs would come near our home, he would always place himself between us and the unknown dog. He was willing to protect us at all costs!

What made Brutus such a faithful dog? Love is what made him faithful. Brutus loved his family and he was willing to give up everything for us. As I think about the love and devotion of our dog Brutus, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to us! Our God is faithful and devoted to us in all circumstances. Like the song says,

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

But beside being faithful and staying by our side under all circumstances, our God is a God of love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Just as our big brown dog was willing to give his life to protect our family, so God gave up something more precious to save a sinful people. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God loves us so much that He let His only Son die on the cross. He gave up His Son for a rebellious and sinful person like me! God loves us no matter what. Even when we ignore Him, Jesus is still waiting patiently for us to open the door to Him (Revelation 3:20) and make Him part of our family. Even if we feel unworthy of His love, He still wants us to come back home to Him. He wants to take away our rebellious and sinful heart and to give us a new heart. Will you let Him do that for you today?