Staying in Step

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Thursday, June 02, 2005

"Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

Awhile ago, I was having problems with my German shepherd whenever we went for a walk. If another dog came anywhere near him, he would go crazy and lunge out at the dog, even if it wasn't bothering him. When I shared this with the people who gave him to us, they asked me how I was walking him. I told them how, a lot of times, I would take him out, turn him loose, and let him go wherever he wanted to. Sometimes he would chase rabbits. When he was done, I would take him home.

They told me I couldn't do that anymore, because I was letting him run wild. They said, "The problem is that he is too 'doggy.' " They went on to explain how he needed to be reminded of who his master was. They said I needed to get him on his leash and use a muzzle device. I started using it, and I found that it did work. I would just pull on his muzzle a little bit and he couldn't go after that rabbit. He had to go where I wanted him to go. After awhile, I took the muzzle off. Now he no longer needs that device. I am the master and he is the dog. He just goes where I go.

We can be like that with God. We say, "Here is what I want to do, Lord. You come with me."

But God says, "That is not the way it works. I want you to be more like Me. I want you to get in step with Me. I want you to go where I am going." When we do, we are living the Christian life to its fullest.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000