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 2 Timothy 2:15-19- Lead Dog

        When I was young we moved to Whitehorse, Yukon.  My dad was a High School industrial arts teacher.  My parents packed three young boys into a green station wagon and drove over 2,600 km for six days toward the Arctic (much of it over gravel roads).  An adventure we'd never forget.  Five years in the Yukon defined us in many ways and embedded Yukon culture into our family.  The Land of the Midnight Sun.  It’s where Mom and Dad experienced the love of Christ from the church family.  The Yukon was where our young family made friends with people from all over the world who moved there to work and explore.

        A big part of our winter life in the Yukon was dog sledding.  Dad got into it.  He made a sled, entered races, and bought all the dogs.  My favorite dog was ‘Polar,’ a white Siberian husky with a pink nose.  Polar was smart, brave, and hardworking.  He was our lead dog - the front dog that listens to the musher and drives all the other dogs on.  When we moved back to Northern Saskatchewan we only took three dogs with us - Polar was one of them.  I don’t know if dogs will be in heaven (I think they will be), but if they are I sure look forward to seeing Polar.

        Like the lead dog, you and I as Christ's followers have a big responsibility.  We pull a heavy weight - a weight shared by the team and lightened by Christ.  You and I have a responsibility to work hard so we can present ourselves to God and receive his approval.  Your Mom won’t present you.  Your Pastor won’t present you.  Your boss won’t present you.  You must present yourself.  As Christians, we do life together, make disciples together, and work as a team.  Yet on the day of reckoning, each person will stand before our judge - Jesus Christ.

        Lord Jesus, please help us to be good workers for you.  Workers who are not ashamed of our words and actions - and who correctly explain the word of truth.  Please help us to avoid anything - worthless talk or actions - that lead to more godless behavior.

        Let’s strive for godly behavior.  That’s what lead dogs do.  We correct each other, rebuke, and encourage the team.  God knows his team well.  Any man or woman who trusts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Master is a born-again Christian.  God knows us intimately and loves us completely.

        Thanks be to God Almighty.  God alone decides who gets to be the lead dog.  It's a person ready for the role, pure, righteous, and capable.  A person who can hear the Father's voice - and more importantly who obeys immediately.  A person who can correct and rebuke and who can get the rest of the team on the path to winning the race.  A person who takes good precautions and who does not let the team get stuck.  A person who prepares and is ready to go despite cold weather or an empty stomach.  And it's a person who is fun to run with - a joy to run with - one who knows the path and is good at encouraging the team to run on despite tired backs and legs.

        So, what do we do as men and women of the Holy One today?  We work hard as Paul instructs in this passage.  “All who belong to the LORD must turn from evil” (2:19).  That is what we do today.  We turn away from evil and work hard to prepare ourselves for our King.  With God’s blessing, we will strive to be special utensils - ready for God to use us this year for His honorable use.

        Lord Jesus, we want to be transformed by you today.  Please help us to grow and learn - to blow past any barriers holding us back in the spiritual world and any limitations.  Please help us to stay pure and focused.  Thank you for all of those in your Church.  May we serve you well today as we listen to your commands.  Amen.


Yukoners at heart.


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