I was lying on the rug the other morning, half asleep, half listening.
That’s a dog’s specialty, you know. We can look lazy and still be paying attention.
And I hear my human say those words I love to hear, “Come on, boy.”
Now I’ve learned something over the years. When he says “come,” it might mean a walk.
It might mean work.
It might mean we’re going somewhere I don’t understand.
But it always means one thing for sure:
He’s leading. I’m following.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
Now I don’t know everything about crosses.
I’m just a dog.
But I do know about collars.
A collar means I belong to someone.
A leash means I’m not in charge.
And “heel” means I stay close.
Jesus didn’t say, “Admire Me.”
He didn’t say, “Agree with Me.”
He said, “Follow Me.”
That’s different.
Following means I don’t chase every squirrel that runs across the yard of life. (And let me tell you, there are a lot of squirrels.)
It means when my instincts say “Run!” but my human says “Stay,” I learn to trust His voice over my impulses.
He said, “Deny yourself.”
That’s not popular in a world that says, “Indulge yourself.”
It’s not easy in a culture that says, “Express yourself.”
But Jesus says, “Deny yourself.”
Sometimes I want the whole couch.
Sometimes I want the biggest piece of meat.
Sometimes I want to bark just because I can.
But maturity—for dogs and disciples—means surrender.
Jesus goes on to say that whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake will save it.
Now I’ve noticed something.
When I slip my collar and run free, it feels exciting for about five minutes… until I realize I’m lost.
Cars are bigger than I am.
The world is louder than I thought.
Freedom without my human isn’t freedom at all.
But when I walk beside him—even when the path is steep—I’m safe.
I’m steady.
I’m secure.
Taking up your cross daily means this isn’t a one-time decision.
It’s not a Sunday-only stroll
. It’s every single day saying:
“Master, You lead. I’ll follow.”
Even when the road goes uphill.
Even when the night gets dark.
Even when obedience costs something.
Because here’s what I’ve learned from watching my human’s eyes:
He never leads me somewhere without a purpose.
I may not understand the route, but I trust the hand holding the leash.
Jesus didn’t call us to comfort.
He called us to commitment.
He didn’t call us to spectatorship.
He called us to surrender.
And surrender, strange as it sounds, is where life is found.
So today, maybe the question isn’t, “Do I believe in Jesus?”
Maybe the question is, “Am I following Jesus?”
Collar on.
Eyes up.
Step in sync with the Savior.
Because the safest place for a sheep, a human, and even an old lazy dog… is right behind the Shepherd.
“Come on… let’s go.”
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
