Marley and...My God

Marley and Me is the most popular film in America right now. A great movie about a couple (and then a family) and their dog. What do you think God thinks about the movie? On one level, I believe He approves. Hollywood actually wrote a script where a married couple works through relational struggles and stays committed to the marriage! But there is another level besides that where God is pleased with the movie...God loves dogs! Well, He loves more than dogs...He loves cats, guinea pigs, lizards, parakeets, hamsters, cows, zebras, horses and whatever other animal you can think of! In Genesis 8:1, in the midst of the Great Flood that covered the earth, we read that "God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark." What an interesting verse. We can understand God remembering Noah...why not just leave it at that? But no, the inspired text specifically adds, "and all the beasts and all the livestock." God's heart is so big and so tender that he remembers even the animals. This is revealed elsewhere as well. In Proverbs 12:10 we read that "whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast." In Jonah 4:11, God makes his case for showing compassion for wicked Ninevah by telling Jonah that there are many children there, as well as many "cattle." God spared the city, not only because of people, but because of animals! Then, of course, there are the words of Jesus, which leads me to the whole point of this devotional...in Luke 12:5-6, Christ tells the disciples to consider sparrows. Birds of such little worth in the world's eyes that five are sold for two pennies. Yet the fact is not one of them is forgotten by the Father. "Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. God cares about animals and has regard for their welfare. How much more will He care for you today! Amazing, all this from Marley and Me...the Gospel is being preached everywhere! Listen to the music.