DANCING DOGS AND PLAGIARISM



Disclaimer:  This is not a political commentary.  I don’t do that sorta thing.  Because I’d rather be watching dancing-dogs-in-dresses on talent shows.  It’s such a welcome relief.

However … today a particular word has exploded from the depths of all things political – PLAGIARISM (gasp!).

Probably most of you have never deliberately absconded with others’ literary and/or musical masterpieces.  At least, not on purpose.  Because in these days of inexhaustible internet information, it’s realllllyyyy easy to find stolen lyrics, poems, and even thought processes, and then tweet to excess that boo-boo du’jour.

Now, to make myself feel superior, I hereby offer you a definition of the word:  it’s stealing someone else’s stuff and passing it off as your own.  It’s called Theft.  In an offshoot way, it’s breaking the 8^th Commandment.  Or at least twisting and/or crinkling it.

Offshooting it even more, think of it this way … is it possible that, when you were a brand new squeaky-clean baby Christian, you felt that you had something to do with your own salvation?  That you had a tiny hand in helping God out with getting yourself cleaned up?  That you opened your own heart-door and invited Jesus in of your own volition?

Well, guess what.  That was prideful salvation plagiarism.  I was very guilty of that for the first year or two.  I took what God did and pretty much told people that I did it.  Thankfully, He didn’t whack me upside the head.  No, He gave me His Word to show me that salvation is His gift, not my works.  I am His workmanship (Ephesians 2:8-9).  I am not adequate in myself, but my adequacy is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).  “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9).  Not me.  By God’s doing, all of His adopted children “are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

My Father, how I praise You that it is You alone Who saved and redeemed me, and through Your Spirit, you continue to purify me more every day to be more like Jesus.  My Lord Jesus, You took my sin upon Yourself and gave me Your righteousness.  It amazes me that I could ever have been boastful of myself, but in Your great patience, You have shown me Yourself, and now I boast only in You, and I thank You that, among other things, You have forgiven me for my spiritual plagiarism.

LIONS, LOLLY-GAGGING, AND LA-DI-DAH

 

My hubby will testify that I’m a real critter lover. He’s afraid to take me the zoo, or festivals, or a neighborhood walk, for fear that I’ll come home with a new fuzzy lovebug, be it cat, dog, goat, iguana ... okay, so the iguana isn’t fuzzy, but I’d gladly buy it a fuzzy sweater. And now I must guard against torpedoing the 10^th Commandment because our friends are going on African safari next month where they can have hands-on experiences with cheetas, elephants, and wildebeasts.

As much as I love to watch nature documentaries, the one thing I don’t handle well is the videos of one breed taking down another for food purposes. I see it in my own home, when I watch our cats stalk and demolish a cricket. I know, it’s nature, the way it’s supposed to be, survival of the fittest. But I’d much rather not witness this much reality. Yes, I am indeed a wimp.

And now you’re asking me, “and your point would be?” Here it is. Read 1 Peter 5:8 -- “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Now take a good look at the photo above, taken by me, on our deck a few winters ago. The birds had found some leftover kitty kibble and were having a heyday, as evidenced by the many wee birdie footprints. And if you look closely, you’ll spy with your little eye ... the single kitty paw print. Like the song that you can’t get out of your head, so this photo and verse should be stuck in your head, only for a better purpose.

The feline’s expertise is a picture of Satan’s. He takes advantage of the weak, the straggler, the unaware, the apathetic, the lolly-gagger. His grubby little footprints are all over Scripture for me to see as an example of his effect on those who weren’t paying attention when he snuck up on them for the physical, emotional and/or spiritual kill.

When believers are at their most vulnerable is when he strikes. Sometimes that vulnerability is from outside sources, like persecution, illness, etc. But vulnerability can also be the result of disobedience, pride, greed. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16)

Gracious Father, I know that, as Your child, I can never be taken from Your hand (John 10:28-29). But it is definitely up to me not to languish and “la-di-dah” through my days, assuming that because I’m Yours, that the diabolical one has lost interest. That would be the dumbest assumption I could make. You have lovingly provided me with Your armor, and Your insistence that I put it on, so that I “will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11-17). Furthermore, You have gifted me with “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” Being aware does not mean living in fear, because You are with me always. And besides my little picture of critter footprints, the “big picture” is that Satan is not long for this world, because You, my Jesus, have already conquered Satan. How I look forward to being with You for all eternity, in a divinely Satan-free environment!