Guest Post: Dog Days of Spirituality

I have learned that spiritual formation is best discussed as a choir, rather than a solo. I've welcomed a few alternate voices - and will continue to do so - over the next few weeks to speak on their journey of transformation. Today's contributor is Chaz Robbins who describes himself as a  follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Chelsea Robbins (aka the most beautiful woman in any room she walks into), and is currently the Preaching Intern here at Parkview. 

Have you ever dog sat for one of your friends?

This week my wife and I are watching our friend’s Golden Retriever.  Her name is Finley and she maybe the cutest dog ever.  I love hanging out with Finley, playing fetch, tug-a-war, and all those fun things that go alone with watching a dog.  No matter how much we love Finley, she can still be a stupid dog.  This week Finley chewed up a wicker chair, nocked over drinks, and worst of all she vomited on the carpet in the dinning room. 

I was sitting there eating breakfast and then all of a sudden this dog walks over to the carpet and leaves a nice present of vomit directly next to my foot.  You know what she does next?  That’s right she starts to try to eat it!  My thought, while I was cleaning up the mess was, “You stupid dog, eating vomit is disgusting.  You could have so much more than this disgusting mess you are settling for?  I would happily give you something better.”  Then it hit me.  How many times do I settle for a disgusting mess of vomit in my life when God could give me the life I really want?

Proverbs 26:11 talks about this.  It says, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”

I don’t know why a dog eats its vomit, but I assume is because it doesn’t realizes that it can have something better.  When a fool repeats his folly I assume its because he or she doesn’t realize that they can have something better.   The something better is life found with Jesus.  Dallas Willard asks, “Do you want to miss out on the greatest thing going on in human life today?”  Jesus’ entrance into the world and enabling us to truly live was the single greatest event that has happened to humankind.

When we settle for anything other than the life Jesus offers us, we are settling for vomit.

In his very direct letter to the Galatians Paul says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

How is a yoke of slavery burdening you?  Are there any behaviors in your life you know aren’t healthy?

Jesus didn’t come to make our lives worse, boring, legalistic, or awkward.  These things are a burden.  He came so that we might have life and life to the full in Him.

I try to live in such a way that I don’t have regrets, but this doesn’t always happen.  I have regrets when I eat too much Taco Bell.  I have regrets when I don’t live up to my full potential.  I have regrets when I hurt the people I love.  I have regrets when I don’t follow God’s direction for my life.  One thing I know is that when we join with Jesus in the greatest event that has ever happened to mankind, we will never regret it.  We will never regret following God.

Are you settling for a mess of vomit in your life or experiencing the freedom of a life with Christ?

Read Chaz's blog here or follow on Twitter @chazersays and on Facebook.