A New Pedigree

Our dog Mabel has always been friendly and easy-going with people.  When we meet someone on the street or someone comes to the house she is friendly and playful, wagging her tail and looking for a bit of attention.  And, she is especially good with children.  But other dogs? Well, that’s another story.  As time has gone on she has become much more excitable at the sight of other dogs, barking and jumping in such a way that other dog owners don’t want to bring their dogs anywhere near Mabel.  Even our attempts to distract her have become pretty much useless. All we can do is drag her along until the other dog is out of sight.  It has become very frustrating for us and for her.

Now I’m not looking to make excuses for Mabel, but I did a little research on what’s going on. I found out that Mabel, being one half Jack Russell, is behaving exactly the way most JR’s behave.  For some reason, they tend to be a breed that do not get along all that well with other dogs unless they have had extensive training.  In fact, the internet is filled with JR owners sharing their woes on this matter, each one seeking advice as to how to get their dog to stop barking so wildly at the sight of other dogs.  And, although I know we have to keep working to train her better, I have come to understand that much of her behavior is just part of her nature; it is in many ways just who she is – it’s part of her pedigree!  Sometimes I think, if only I could change her pedigree then she would behave differently!  (By the way, her other “half” is supposedly Bassett Hound!)

The same is true for us as people.  The way we behave is often a result of who we are.  We all have a particular pedigree—a natural personality and disposition, a cultural and familial background—we come from a mix of societal and genetic stock.  Then there is the issue of our natural sinful nature.  And, sometimes we can begin to think that we are stuck in our behavioral modes, that we can never do any better, that we are destined to live our lives according to our pedigree.

But, the Bible tells us that when we give our lives to following Jesus we receive a new pedigree!  The Bible says, we’ve have been born again. Everything becomes new for us, from the inside out.  We are no longer merely part of the human family, but we are now part of God’s family.  Thus, we don’t have to live our lives according to the old patterns of our old pedigree.  We have been set free to live our lives in a completely new way.   

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23 –NIV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23 – NIV)

No matter what we do, Mabel may continue to bark at other dogs for it is just the way Jack Russells behave (or at least so I’m told).  But, we who have been born again are now empowered by the Spirit of God.  We can now live our lives in a new way, living according to our new pedigree.

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris