Sermon Illustrations
Posted by Douglas on Apr 13, 2007

My neighbors have an orange tiger catĀ that lives on the porch, and thinks that it belongs to meĀ instead of them. No kidding.

Part of the reason for that is probably the fact that they have a pre-school-age daughter, and (I would imagine) she's a bit rough on the cat. I, on the other hand, always stop to pet the cat when I walk by, so it's natural that the cat would enjoy my company.

During the winter months, particularly when it's very cold outside, the cat more or less lives in front of my door. Either that or he has very good ears, and can hear me coming, so he's always there when I start to open the door.

I've never let the cat inside my house, and yet, the cat seems to think it really wants to be inside with me.

A couple days ago I was thinking to myself, "Well, we're starting to get warmer weather now, so I probably won't see the cat so much anymore."

And then I opened my door, and the oddest thing happened -- I saw this bright orange streak from across the road and two houses down, come racing toward my door. In fact, that cat moved so fast that he was in front of my door before I even finished opening it!

Oddly enough, the cat's behavior made me think of a verse in the Bible, in the book of Psalms:

84:10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.Psalms 84:10 (ESV)

It occurred to me that the cat feels the same way about coming to my house as God wants us to feel about coming to His house.

But do I really feel that strongly about going into the house of God? Do I drop everything and race with enthusiasm toward its doors?

Popular tags
Christian life, Jesus, character, love, integrity, trouble, hiking, mountains, children, 1 Peter 2:4, foundation, heart, perseverance, sermon on the mount, 1 Peter 2:1, Philippians 4:8, music, faithfulness, heaven, contentment, the church, gifts, scripture, God's will, spiritual discipline, 2 Corinthians 3:18, renewal, art, salvation, human nature, hope, faith, Christmas, humility, devotion, sin, Romans 12:2, blessings, Psalms 103:13, 2 Peter 1:5, self-control, envy, creation, beauty, Matthew 6:26, light, Philippians 2:3, excellence, servanthood, strength, age groups, stability, Hebrews 12:2, teaching, 1 John 5:3, Titus 2:11, obedience, commandments, the gospel, generosity, death, selfishness, deceit, Colossians 4:6, listening, behavior, interpretation, responsibility, justice, Galatians 6:1, Philippians 4:11, materialism, John 8:34, Psalms 40:8, Luke 14:12, 2 Timothy 4:3, James 2:10, family, Romans 14:6, Titus 3:5, Ecclesiastes 4:9, power, Philippians 4:1, honor, meekness, Matthew 5:36, Isaiah 60:1, diligence, Psalms 17:8, Isaiah 40:4, grace, judgment, regeneration, fellowship, Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 2:11, John 13:15, John 1:4, attention, John 1:23, 1 Peter 2:22, Galatians 6:5, Psalms 66:18, sojourners, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Hebrews 10:24, preaching, 1 Peter 2:6, Matthew 15:11, Matthew 28:19, John 14:3, comparisons, Romans 8:24, Matthew 11:30, Deuteronomy 32:4, prayer, John 10:1, Matthew 6:25, 1 Peter 2:2, disappointment, Matthew 10:5, Christ's return, Psalms 1:1, patience, Genesis 2:7, Matthew 15:18, Ecclesiastes 11:1, Jeremiah 17:9, voice, Matthew 6:34, Proverbs 25:8, John 11:35, discipleship, Revelation 22:20, counsel, Ecclesiastes 1:4, Ecclesiastes 7:2, John 6:38, the good shepherd, John 14:21, James 1:19, Psalms 95:8, public speaking, peace, resurrection, Luke 12:34, cooperation, 1 Corinthians 15:1, delayed gratification, 1 Peter 3:3, Ecclesiastes 11:4, math, 1 Peter 1:7, Hebrews 12:15, Matthew 18:3, Proverbs 3:5, grief, Luke 12:32, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Micah 6:8, Galatians 3:19, logic, suffering, work, anger, Titus 2:13, John 16:33, Psalms 51:7, trust, treasure, 1 Corinthians 12:22, John 14:24, James 5:5, the law, Psalms 50:10, 1 Peter 1:6, bitterness, 1 Corinthians 15:30, Titus 3:4, John 14:6, priorities, body of Christ, Isaiah 35:4, John 5:36, Deuteronomy 6:5, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Matthew 7:12, Colossians 1:15, 1 John 4:19, danger, Colossians 1:16, Philippians 2:12, Matthew 20:26, ambassadors, James 1:23, Romans 3:23, Philippians 4:9, golden rule, John 10:10, 1 Peter 2:19, cleansing, truth, Philippians 1:6, unity, Philippians 2:1, walking the talk, James 1:5, Revelation 5:2, imitating, context, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 2:21, Psalms 95:7, Leviticus 19:32, Proverbs 25:13, Matthew 5:37, 2 Corinthians 9:6, James 1:17, Philippians 2:9, Colossians 3:12, wisdom, mind, Psalms 8:3, kindness, 1 Peter 1:17, Luke 2:10, Psalms 29:3, respect, culture, James 1:2, Matthew 22:37, Genesis 9:6, Proverbs 25:16, Psalms 73:18, 1 Peter 1:23, Incarnation, Psalms 29:9, John 4:34, Numbers 32:23, 1 Peter 2:12, gentleness, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Psalms 84:10, Proverbs 25:17, Psalms 73:2, Galatians 6:2, Epiphany, glory