BUMMER WAS a hungry street dog in the city of San Francisco. A butcher took pity on poor Bummer and used to feed him. Bummer repaid his master’s kindness well, for he used to watch his shop and kept away many robbers.
Bummer was a faithful watchdog and did his work well, but he had a very odd habit. Every night the butcher would give him a piece of meat for his supper. But instead of eating it, he trotted off and disappeared somewhere in the back streets. It was useless to call him back. Away he went and came back without his meat.
The butcher thought this very strange and at last determined to follow him to find out where he went. But it was not such an easy matter. Bummer knew the short cuts as no one else ever dreamed of, and the butcher was inclined to give up the chase more than once.
At last they came to an old tumbledown shanty, and Bummer darted inside. When his master entered he was struck dumb with amazement. A poor sick dog lay huddled up on some shavings. Bummer had dropped in front of him the piece of meat which had been given him for his own supper.
Don’t you think Bummer was a very kind and faithful friend?
Bummer’s faithfulness reminds me of the love and faithfulness of a more wonderful Friend — Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. Bummer did what he could, but the Lord Jesus has done much more for sin-sick souls like you and me. He gave His life upon that awful cross, that we might live.
The Bible tells us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15: 13. But Jesus died even for His enemies, for we were all guilty rebel sinners. We did not love God, but were “enemies in our mind by wicked works” (Col. 1:21). Yet God loved us just the same and to prove His love He sent His only Son to die to put away our sins. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.
“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.
We believe that somehow that sick dog would make known to Bummer how much he appreciated his noble friend’s kindness. Don’t you think you should thank the Lord Jesus for all He has done for you, to put away your sins and to save you from judgment? All He asks is that you receive Him into your heart as your own precious Saviour, that you confess Him to others, and that you seek to live for Him each day. One day soon He will come and take all those who love Him up to heaven, to be with Himself in the Father’s house forever.
ML-10/08/1972