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Feb 25, 2026 06:00am

From Stray to Saved

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“Was that a puppy?”

I stopped the car, turned around, and went back. Sure enough, in the midst of the pile of garbage was a puppy.

I put the car in park as fast as I could and opened the door. Thoughts of danger never entered my mind; I just knew that baby needed help.

He was skittish at first, but as I coaxed him, calling in a soft, low voice, he finally came to me.

His thin brown body clung to his bones, every rib visible. He was shaking as I picked him up, those big eyes staring straight into mine. Fleas and ticks covered his small frame, and I knew this was no place for him. I snuggled him close, reassuring him that everything was going to be fine. He was safe now. He would have a home. He would be loved.

And then his tail began to wag.

Within a few weeks, he was a brand-new dog. He had put on weight, received his vaccinations, and was free of fleas, ticks, and parasites. He was warming up to his new home and all it offered—warmth, a cozy bed, safety, freedom from fighting over food, and love. Everything he needed was right there.

And he had what every dog dreams of—a collar with a name tag. He belonged to a family.

Sometimes, I look back and see myself as that little puppy.

Lost, forgotten, discarded—trying to survive but failing. Living in a mess without security.

Until the Master called me to Himself.

God took me just as I was and called me His own. But He loved me too much to leave me in the mess I was in. He placed the Holy Spirit inside me and began cleaning me up. He gave me a home, love, and security. I belong to Him; I am part of His family.

That’s how God works.

He doesn’t save us and leave us in the mess. He calls us to Himself. He is holy and righteous, and we cannot remain in our sin and stay in His presence unchanged.

This is the point Paul was making to the believers in Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:17–24
“With the Lord’s authority, I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Paul said, “If you’re a believer in Christ, live like it.”

Our lives should reflect the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts and minds. Can we be followers of Jesus and still look like the world? Can we remain covered in the same darkness of our past?

The answer is simple: no.

To follow Christ means to walk in the opposite direction of sin. If we are walking with Him, we are no longer in darkness. Our old lives are gone, and behold—we are made new.

So what does that look like?

Here’s what Paul said:

Ephesians 4:25–31
“25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good, hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.”

Here’s what I love about God’s Word. He says it clearly:

“Here’s your sin, here’s what needs to stop, and here’s what you should be doing instead.”

Ephesians 4:32
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

God has rescued us from the garbage we were in. That’s not who we are or where we live anymore. Step out of it. Surrender to the Holy Spirit and live for Christ—not the way the world says is right, but what God says is right.

If you want to learn the truth about what Christ has done for you and what it means to be His follower, go to follow.lifeword.org.

God may have found us in that mess, but He loves us too much to leave us there.