When I was a child and lived on a farm, our family received a Saint Bernard puppy. That was a happy day for us children. We named him Caesar, and it wasn’t long before he grew up to be a very large dog. It was lots of fun romping and playing games with him.
What an appetite Caesar had! A big bowl of food was gobbled down in no time. But he earned his food, because he was a help around the farm. He was always willing to do things for us. He watched for the mail carrier, who put the mail wrapped in the morning paper in Caesar’s mouth. Then he always brought it right to one of us.
Mother had a garden in which she grew different kinds of vegetables. When she would get a basket and go to the garden to pick fresh vegetables for dinner, Caesar always went with her. After Mother filled the basket, she would give it to Caesar to carry. Carrying the full basket was not easy for him, but he managed to bring it right into the kitchen. Then the cook stove had to be lit. A big pile of wood and kindling was kept in a dry place near the house. When we children carried some of this wood into the house, Caesar was always right there to carry a few pieces too.
As we got older, my brother and I had to walk a mile to the railroad station to take a train to a Chicago high school. Our faithful, devoted Caesar knew when it was time for us to arrive home in the afternoon. He would go lie on the back porch until he saw us coming. Then he would bound up to meet us and carry some of our books strapped together back to the house.
Caesar was also an excellent watchdog. One afternoon he saw a stranger go into the basement of our house. He knew just how to handle that situation. Instead of following the stranger into the basement, he stood at the door growling, as if to say, “You stay there until my master comes; he’ll take care of you!” Father did just that, and then Caesar got extra food for his supper as a reward.
How many of you boys and girls are as obedient to your parents as Caesar was to his family? God’s Word says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:11Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)). To obey is one of the best things we can do as Christians. Why was Caesar so obedient? Because he loved his master and wanted to please him. These are the same reasons for us to obey too. Our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, loves us very much and wants us to be obedient children. By reading the Bible, we can learn how He wants us to please Him. When Caesar was told to do something, he did it. If we read in the Bible that the Lord Jesus wants us to do something, then we should obey. By being obedient to God and to His Son Jesus, we as His children can live a life pleasing to Him.
First, though, each of us must become one of God’s family. Caesar was not born into our family; he had to be bought. We also must be brought into God’s family, but we cannot pay money to become a member. The price has already been paid. The Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross, and there He was punished for the sins of all who would believe in Him. Those who are saved from their sins become part of His family. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour now and become a member of His family? “Now therefore hearken unto Me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep My ways” (Proverbs 8:3232Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. (Proverbs 8:32)).
ML-01/12/2003