A Rescue, Not a Romance

Growing Daily

A Rescue, Not a Romance

Have you seen the viral videos of rescue dogs “choosing” new owners?  A room full of hopeful people wait while a friendly dog singles out a stranger, tail wagging with delight.  The chosen human dissolves into grateful tears.  It’s heartwarming to watch, even if it’s slightly staged.  

Sometimes we picture our salvation in a similar way.  We forget our former spiritual destitution and imagine that we chose God, tail wagging and eager to belong.  

But salvation looks very different — more like the time I visited an animal shelter hoping to adopt a cute puppy.  Instead, I found a row of pit bulls, caged and tagged for aggressive behavior.  Sadly, each dog carried a history that left little hope of adoption.  Their days were numbered.

Could one of these dogs become a faithful friend and frolic with my kids?  I walked away, unwilling to take the risk.

But God didn’t walk away from us.  

Scripture tells us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  We didn’t deserve rescue — yet God stepped in, paid the cost, and brought us home (Romans 6:23; Galatians 4:4–7).  Jesus reminds us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).

So today, remember salvation for the rescue that it is.  Gratitude—and reflecting His heart by extending mercy and love to others—is our proper response.


- Catherine Reid