I have a dog. She is a precious creature who brightens my life. If dogs think, then she thinks I am the number one focus of her life. This means that she is not perfectly happy when I’m away; she wants to be in close proximity to me when I am home; she pays attention to my commands…most of the time; and she would risk her life to save mine if we ever encountered danger – that is, unless she was offered food.

My precious, life-saving, image of loyalty is OBSESSED with food! She knows when it is beng prepared, eaten, or dropped on the floor. She can sense when some of it has been set aside for her. Drools pools up in her chops and begins to fall when she sees people eating and she is not allowed to join them.  If bread crumbs have been sprinkled outside for the birds, she will wait by the front door for HOURS, waiting for a chance to get outside and clean them up. She will perform all her tricks in 3 seconds if a treat is being held up for her. She would not hesitate to lay down her life for food; nothing can distract her when food is on her mind.  In all actuality, food is her number one and I am number two.

What about you and I? What do we claim for our number one, when in fact it only comes in as a close second? My relationship with God quickly comes to mind.  I want Him to be my number one, but my goals, dreams, possessions, and comfort subtly slide into first position every day. I believe that many of us would truly be willing to lay down our lives for Jesus if head met pistol, but it’s harder for us to sacrifice the little things on a daily basis. However, in the long run the daily picking up of the cross probably has the greater impact on the watching world.

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