Dog Lessons

God made dogs, and they can be a great education. Taking care of  a 5-year-old schnoodle [Schnauzer and Poodle mix], has been teaching me a lot. One thing I thought of is worship. The New Testament word is proskuneō, which is related to kunos, meaning dog. It is said that worship is like a dog licking its master’s hand.

Here are a few things I learned on line about dogs licking people’s hands.

Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. It releases endorphins [that make dogs feel calmer and more relaxed] and dopamine [pleasure and motivation]. Dogs can lick people for affection, communication, grooming, exploration, and attention. Mother dogs lick their pups to clean and stimulate them and they learn very early that tongues are useful tools in communicating and interacting with the world around them. Puppies lick to appease older dogs and clear the way for safe social interactions. We do a lot with our hands and they are like a roadmap for dogs that tells the story of our day, and they want to taste and smell every “destination.” The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin that dogs enjoy.

This schnoodle likes to lick our hands. It gives her pleasure. Worshiping our Creator also brings pleasure. And we want to know more about our Father’s business for us. We also want to be “salted” and obey God’s commands. And this schnoodle has learned to listen to Sherry and my voices and respond. That’s because we know better than she does and have a greater ability to think and reason. God’s thoughts are much higher than ours and we should trust Him, not our own limited understanding [Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5,6].

The dog also just wants to be around us. Even though we don’t let her in bed with us, after a few nights of crying outside our door, we allowed her in. She is content to sit UNDER our bed, just to be near us.

Psalms 84:10:
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper [outer threshold] in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

And she doesn’t take her eyes off of us. She is always ready to please, and seems to just want to love us.

Psalms 123:2:
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Today, we have access to the Father through Christ. Christ is the vine and we are the branches. We should keep our eyes on what Christ has done for us. We need to look to Jesus in his ascended position as Lord over all, at his Father’s right hand of blessing.

Colossians 3:1:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

When we go through life’s challenges, we can look to our risen Savior, knowing that he overcame the adversary’s world and even death itself.

Hebrews 12:2:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Here’s an old hymn that I still love.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Let’s keep our eyes and hearts where they are supposed to be. On God’s goodness through our Lord and Savior, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 13:14:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.