So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Deuteronomy 5:32
I had our bouncy pup at a training class where he learns the basics of agility. This is supposed to help him with paying attention to me and make our bond stronger. It also teaches me better communication with him. A short sequence of a tunnel and three jumps was set up waiting to go. One at a time we were to take off the leash and have them complete the sequence. Hmmm, this was going to be some kind of interesting.
It came time for us to do the exercise. Now let me remind you…off leash…9 month pup…all kinds of distractions…here we go! The leash comes off…he’s waiting…nice. He goes through the tunnel, does a small turn, and over the first jump…he’s listening! Before he gets turned to do the next jump he spots a person. Oh my, how exciting (his brain is working and the thoughts are just flying around) a person, a person put on this earth…in my path…to make me happy, happy, oh so happy!
Now you might be thinking that we were done for at this point. Game over. You are right in one way because he did start to go to that person for what I’m sure he felt was going to be the most exciting pat he ever got. Little did he know that if he got to her, it wouldn’t have been as much fun as he thought. He would have pretty much been ignored until I got him. No rewards for bad behavior! What happened next surprised me. I yelled is name, and he did a complete about face, listening to see what I would say next. I gave him the commands for the next obstacles and he was right back on course again…yes! He finished and got his reward. I was so impressed!
Doesn’t this sound like our lives? We are in God’s will, running our race, when all of a sudden there is a temptation ahead. If we start to veer off course, will we turn back around at our Master’s voice? We can’t let temptations get in the way of getting the rewards that God has in store for us.
I challenge you to stay tuned into His voice today. Be careful not to turn aside to the right or to the left of God’s course.
