Scriptures: John 5:39 

           

Recently the Iowa news reported that a miniature Schnauzer in Cedar Rapids ended up at Mercy Medical Center where its owner was battling cancer, even though the dog was originally 20 blocks away. This little dog named Sissy belonged to Nancy Franck had followed her scent to the hospital. Fortunately the dog had a dog tag and a phone call was made to Nancy Franck's husband confirming that it was their dog and his wife was a patient in the hospital.

Jesus uses the scent tracking idea as he tells us to search the scriptures. In John 5: 39 Jesus says "search the scriptures" and he uses the Greek word "ereunao" which means to "search as a dog tracks by the scent". When a dog tracks a scent it follows three phases; first it takes short sniffs to pick up the scent which is called searching; then it takes longer sniffs and determines the direction to follow which is called deciding; finally it follows the scent which is called tracking. It picks up the scent, decides the direction and then follows the scent.

This is the practice that Jesus wants us to follow. We are to pick it up and read it. Then we are to get directions from it and follow those directions. The dog follows the scent because the scent leads it to what it wants. There is a scent that leads us to salvation, peace, joy, empowerment, long life, prosperity, and much more. Whatever you need, the scent is in the word. Follow the scent.