A finely coiffed poodle sat in a pet store. It was next to the door for everyone to admire. Next to it was an English sheepdog, its flowing fur lush and inviting. The greater the distance down the aisle, the scruffier and cheaper the animals got, until at the very end, a small gray and black dog of unknown heritage barked and barked, running from side to side in its cage.
As the day wore on, many people came in admiring the poodle and the sheepdog. However, with their prices high, it was the other animals that went to new owners until only three remained.
A wealthy family came in, and as everyone else had, they paused, admiring the poodle and the sheepdog. Their little boy heard the barking dog and ran straight to the back of the shop.
“Look at these,” his father called, standing by the fancy dogs. “These would make fine pets. They are expensive, but I’m willing to pay any price.”
The boy came back holding the gray and black dog in his arms. It could hardly stop licking his face. “But this one needs me.”
“That one’s just a noisy mutt. No one wants it.”
“I do.”
Jesus is that little boy, and we are that little mutt. Jesus doesn’t care about pedigrees. He cares about the state of someone’s heart.
Look in Matthew 3:7-10. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to John the Baptist for baptism. They were at the highest level of Jewish society. Their participation in John’s baptism would have put a social stamp of approval on his work.
However, John knew they had come only for show. He cried out to them, “You wicked snakes! Do not claim that Abraham is your forefather, and that makes you worthy of his grace! If God wants descendants, he can form them from the stones at our feet. Rather, change your lifestyle and prove your repentance.”
God does not want us because we belong to the local country club, or because we drive a fancy car. It’s not the awards on our walls that impress him. He draws us to him because we need him.
Jesus’ followers thought the Messiah’s teachings were for them only, for they were God’s Chosen, the Children of Israel, and that the gentiles were little more than mutts of unknown heritage. It took God’s hand to prove to them otherwise.
In Acts 11:5-10, Peter tells how God dropped a sheet in front of him with all manner of unclean animals, telling him to eat. This happened three times, until God told Peter that what he had pronounced clean could not be unclean.
Finally, Peter related how the Holy Spirit had fallen upon some gentiles in the same manner as it had fallen upon the Jews. Those listening praised God and said, “It is true. Even other nations are to turn to him, and if they repent, they will live.”
That is what God wants from us. When he sends us to minister to those who need him, he wants us to look at their need, not at their pedigree.
God looks past our social status, and he sees our spiritual status.
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