I used to be a stray at heart.
I longed to wander.
I thought freedom meant no leash and no master.
Turns out, I didn’t need more roaming. I needed rescuing.
My human read to me one day from John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I may just be an old dog, but I know what it means to be loved.
When my human looks at me, I see it in his eyes.
And that verse says the God who hung the moon looked at this wandering world and loved us anyway.
Like when I got tangled up in the briars chasing something I had no business chasing.
I yelped, and my human came.
Didn’t scold.
Didn’t lecture.
He reached in, took some scratches himself, and pulled me free.
That’s what Jesus did on the cross.
Romans 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
He didn’t wait for us to clean up our fur.
He came into the thorns and took the wounds.
He is Savior.
It’s one thing to be rescued.
It’s another thing to come when you’re called.
Jesus isn’t just Savior.
He’s Lord.
Over in Romans 10:9, the Word says if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Now “Lord” means Master.
Ownership.
The One who holds the leash.
I used to think leashes were a nuisance.
Restrictive.
An obstacle to my happiness.
But I’ve learned that his leash doesn’t limit me; it protects me.
Keeps me from running into the road.
Keeps me from chasing things that could hurt me.
When I trust his hand, I walk in safety.
When we call Jesus Savior but resist Him as Lord, we’re like a dog who wants to be untangled from the briars but refuses the collar.
We want rescue without relationship.
Freedom without following
But real salvation is both.
Acts 4:12 says there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
That name is Jesus.
Not good works.
Not church attendance.
Not being a well-groomed pup.
And Philippians 2:11 says every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Savior and Lord.
He rescues us from sin’s penalty, and He rules over our life with love and wisdom.
He saves us from destruction.
And He leads us into abundant life.
This old dog has learned something simple:
Life is better when I stay close to the Master.
When He says “Come,” I come.
When He says “Stay,” I stay.
When He says “Heel,” I walk beside Him.
Not because I’m afraid—but because I trust His heart.
Salvation isn’t just getting out of the pound.
It’s coming home.
It’s wearing His name on your tag.
It’s resting at His feet knowing you belong.
And if you’re still wandering—listen to this old lazy dog…
He loved you enough to die for you.
He rose again to lead you.
He stands ready to rescue you.
And He is worthy to be Lord.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
