On a recent walk I enjoyed a nice paws, I mean pause, at the dog park. Most of my life, I’ve had a dog. Tapping into my memory archives, I recall Tiger the beagle, Puppy Thomas the mutt, Herbie the basset-beagle, Sugar the samoyed, Mick the german shepherd, a labrador trifecta consisting of; Gracie Girl the chocolate, Hannah the yellow, Bear the black, and then my most recent little buddy, Apollo who at age 17 left this earth just a year ago. Each pet was a friend, a family member, and each had its own personality and traits. Some were great hunters and guard dogs, but most of them were just sweet and sometimes annoying companions. After some time at the dog park, I was entertained by the behaviors of the dogs, and moved by the interactions between man and his best friend. The bond between a dog and his master was evident as I witnessed more than one dog owner having a full-on conversation with their fur-baby. Is it love? Is it chemistry? Is it because some humans just like dogs more than people? I’ve always wondered what’s going through a dog’s mind when they’re being talked to, motivated to do a new trick for a treat, or commanded to fetch a ball.
Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist at Emory University, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to follow what goes on in a dog’s brain during interactions with humans. He found that a dog’s reward center is as active when the dog is praised as when they’re given a hot dog—and we all know how much dogs love hot dogs! In additional research, Dr. Berns demonstrated that some dogs even prefer their owners to food, if they’re given the choice. He also found a similarity between the part of a dog’s brain that lights up when they hear their owner’s voice, and the same area in our brains that lights up when we’re around someone or something we love. (Cited by Jan Reisen Published: Jan 13, 2022 American Kennel Club)
Isn’t that cool that a part of their brain lights up when they hear their owner’s voice! And, thinking about my time at the dog park, every one of those dogs knew their owner’s voice. I am reminded of sheep and how they respond to their owner’s voice, the shepherd’s voice.
John 10:27-30 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
In this portion of scripture, Jesus is in the midst of a discussion with the Pharisees. Jesus is persistent in his declaration of being the “Good Shepherd” and he uses the analogy of sheep. The Pharisees knew sheep, they owned sheep, and Jesus was speaking their language. The religious leaders would have, or should I say should have, understood this. Oftentimes community pens and wells were used to keep and water the sheep, hence the importance of sheep knowing and listening to the voice of their caring shepherd, but the Pharisees continued in their self-righteous thinking. Jesus is persistent as he explains to the religious leaders that his sheep are led by a Shepherd who knows them intimately and whose voice they trust and follow. These sheep are assured of their identity and security in Christ.
On average, most breeds of dogs need two hours a day of interaction and affection from their owner. Some pets get that, but sadly most don’t. I can’t imagine a sheep only getting two hours a day from their shepherd. They’d soon be an extinct species falling victim to predators, wandering off, or getting into trouble. God WANTS a relationship with us, he wants our hearts and our time. As sheep, we should desire to be near to our Shepherd and never leave his side. Aren’t you glad that our Lord and Savior cares for us so greatly and is the giver of eternal life? We are safe and secure in the Shepherd’s hand and have benefits and blessings beyond a dog biscuit and a tennis ball.
Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist at Emory University, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to follow what goes on in a dog’s brain during interactions with humans. He found that a dog’s reward center is as active when the dog is praised as when they’re given a hot dog—and we all know how much dogs love hot dogs! In additional research, Dr. Berns demonstrated that some dogs even prefer their owners to food, if they’re given the choice. He also found a similarity between the part of a dog’s brain that lights up when they hear their owner’s voice, and the same area in our brains that lights up when we’re around someone or something we love. (Cited by Jan Reisen Published: Jan 13, 2022 American Kennel Club)
Isn’t that cool that a part of their brain lights up when they hear their owner’s voice! And, thinking about my time at the dog park, every one of those dogs knew their owner’s voice. I am reminded of sheep and how they respond to their owner’s voice, the shepherd’s voice.
John 10:27-30 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
In this portion of scripture, Jesus is in the midst of a discussion with the Pharisees. Jesus is persistent in his declaration of being the “Good Shepherd” and he uses the analogy of sheep. The Pharisees knew sheep, they owned sheep, and Jesus was speaking their language. The religious leaders would have, or should I say should have, understood this. Oftentimes community pens and wells were used to keep and water the sheep, hence the importance of sheep knowing and listening to the voice of their caring shepherd, but the Pharisees continued in their self-righteous thinking. Jesus is persistent as he explains to the religious leaders that his sheep are led by a Shepherd who knows them intimately and whose voice they trust and follow. These sheep are assured of their identity and security in Christ.
On average, most breeds of dogs need two hours a day of interaction and affection from their owner. Some pets get that, but sadly most don’t. I can’t imagine a sheep only getting two hours a day from their shepherd. They’d soon be an extinct species falling victim to predators, wandering off, or getting into trouble. God WANTS a relationship with us, he wants our hearts and our time. As sheep, we should desire to be near to our Shepherd and never leave his side. Aren’t you glad that our Lord and Savior cares for us so greatly and is the giver of eternal life? We are safe and secure in the Shepherd’s hand and have benefits and blessings beyond a dog biscuit and a tennis ball.