by Rev Douglas Brauner

Finding comfort in the Hound of Heaven.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

A dog’s nose works at least 10,000 times, maybe even 100,000 times, better than a human nose. One person explained the difference by saying that it’s like a dog being able to sniff out one rotten apple among 1 million good apples. No wonder my dog, Ginger, knows when I open the refrigerator door.

Ginger’s nose works at least 10,000 times better than a human nose.

I discovered the power of a dog’s nose when I was in high school. A family that I hung out with had a basset hound. We left the dog at the house and hiked up into the forest which surrounded their home. We even climbed a tree. The dog was let loose, nose to the ground, and found us. The dog never lost our scent.

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”
Psalm 139:1-2 English Standard Version

This statement by King David ought to both trouble us, and comfort us.

There is nothing hidden from God. We might hide our behavior, thoughts, and words from others, but we cannot hide them from God. We might fool people but we can not fool God. However, when we consider the mercy of God, this reality of God’s discernment ought to comfort us. He desires to remove from us the stench of our sin. Through Christ we no longer need to hide our sin. Our sin is nailed to his cross.

God seeks us out like a basset hound, never losing the trail, because he loves us. He pants after us. He will not let our sin destroy us.

Hound of heaven, pursue me, find me, and rescue me that I might no longer hide my sin from you, but hide myself in your gracious arms. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado