Walter

When I was growing up, my family had a dog named Walter. He was an incredibly friendly dog. Walter was a great pet. He loved our family and we loved him. Despite this, if Walter managed to sneak out the door as someone was leaving or if he managed to get off his leash on a walk, Walter would run. If whoever was walking Walter accidentally let go of the leash he would take off, and Walter was not running anywhere in particular. He wasn’t running back home, he was just running. In fact, Walter couldn’t find his way home. When Walter got out we had to go track him down and bring him home. He could not stay on course or find his destination unless someone was leading him.

In our fallen condition, we are like Walter when he got off his leash. We are lost, wandering, not knowing where we are going. We are running just for the sake of running and cannot find our way home. So, the Lord gave his law so that his people would follow him and live in righteousness, yet they still disobeyed and wandered. They needed a leader.

Like Israel in the Old Testament, we are unable to follow the Law perfectly. It helps guide us, but we are good at slipping off the leash. Our Heavenly Father knew we needed more, so he sent Jesus Christ into the world to fulfill the Law perfectly on our behalf, to track down those lost and wandering, and to lead us home to his Kingdom.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, although we are fallen people, lost and wandering, You sent Jesus Christ to lead us back to you. Thank you for finding us when we go astray and leading us to new life in you. Amen.