The Jews answered Him, "Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge." John 8:48-50

"Max," "Bailey," "Charlie," "Buddy," and "Rocky," "Bella," "Lucy," "Molly," "Daisy" and "Maggie."

Those who keep track of such things say those names are the most popular male and female names people give to their dogs. I have scanned the list and nowhere in the top 100 will you find the nasty name "Hades." Calling your dog Hades just seems to be asking for trouble. When your dog happens to be a pit bull, calling him Hades seems like you're tempting fate.

If that's what you believe, you may be wrong.

Recently, eight-year-old Jesse-Cole Shaver, his sister, Jasmine, and some friends were playing in the Oregon woods. Someone stepped on a rotten log, and a swarm of bees came streaming out. Shaver was stung 24 times and was unable to make an escape by climbing a steep and slippery hill.

That was when the pit bull Hades came to the rescue. In spite of having been stung numerous times, Hades returned to Shaver, grabbed the pants of his young master and pulled him up the hill. Shaver says, "Hades saw me and came, and she dragged me up to the grass and stopped and let me crawl on her back and then took me to mom."

Now, whenever I write a devotion on dogs or cats, I get a whole bunch of e-mails from folks who tell me I really don't understand dogs: in this case pit bulls. Well folks, let me say you may be right. But this devotion isn't about pit bulls; it's about Jesus.

When Jesus walked this earth, people were pretty sure they had Him figured out and could label Him and lock Him away in a little box. Some thought He was a great teacher and they wanted to put Him into the box labeled "teacher." Others considered Him to be a Samaritan, a sinner, a person possessed by Satan, and a blasphemer. They wanted to force Jesus into the boxes that had those labels.

The truth is Jesus doesn't fit in those boxes. He doesn't fit in any box.

Jesus is unique. In the entire history of the world there is only one Person who has been heaven-sent to save sinful humanity. Yes, the world has produced many great leaders and seen many great minds, but Jesus is more than that.

Jesus is the only Son of God; the only perfect Man born of a woman; the only One who could carry our sins; the only One who could suffer and die for us; the only One who could rise from the dead. Jesus defies any boxes, any attempt at categorization.

All we can do is bow before His feet and say, "My Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, and my God."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let my words proclaim and promote Jesus, the world's unique Savior. It is in His Name I pray. Amen.

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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 11-13    Ephesians 2

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