THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Thor
By Deborah Shaffer January 7th, 2026
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24
And then there was Thor. I’ve told you about my two dogs, Sparky and Buddy. Sparky was my hyper, do-anything-for attention Brittany spaniel, and Buddy, was my obedient yellow lab who just wanted to stay as close to me as possible. But let me introduce you to my wanna-be, but confused dog, Thor.
He was a beautiful yellow lab mix that looked just like Buddy, but only bigger. Every day he would join us on my morning run—if he saw us leave the house. He was very attentive and lived for my approval and affection. He was a good dog and I loved him—however, but unfortunately, he wasn’t mine. He thought he was, though! He ate my food, listened to most of my commands, and joined my dogs for all the love and attention he could get. But the truth was that he belonged to my son, who lived around the corner. Thor was confused. He loved both my son and me, and tried his best to serve two masters. But, the bottom line was that he was not mine, because I didn’t have ownership papers.
Thor is like so many in our world, today. They think just because they are “moral” people, do “good” deeds, or are kind to others, that they somehow are Christians. They may even go to church every time the doors are open. But like Thor, they are deceived. They blend into both worlds because there has never been an ownership change. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24); but many want us to believe that we can accept Christ as a Savior from sin, but not the Lord of our lives.
This is deception. The true Christian is the one who continues to come to Christ always believing in Him. It is ongoing faith, not a one-time act. Christianity goes beyond just “doing;” it is “being”—just as Thor did the right things that made him appear to be mine, but was not. Christianity is calling upon Jesus Christ for salvation, repenting, and selling out to Him with our entire being. It is an ownership change, not just some “good things” we may do.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45–46.
Thor
By Deborah Shaffer January 7th, 2026
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24
And then there was Thor. I’ve told you about my two dogs, Sparky and Buddy. Sparky was my hyper, do-anything-for attention Brittany spaniel, and Buddy, was my obedient yellow lab who just wanted to stay as close to me as possible. But let me introduce you to my wanna-be, but confused dog, Thor.
He was a beautiful yellow lab mix that looked just like Buddy, but only bigger. Every day he would join us on my morning run—if he saw us leave the house. He was very attentive and lived for my approval and affection. He was a good dog and I loved him—however, but unfortunately, he wasn’t mine. He thought he was, though! He ate my food, listened to most of my commands, and joined my dogs for all the love and attention he could get. But the truth was that he belonged to my son, who lived around the corner. Thor was confused. He loved both my son and me, and tried his best to serve two masters. But, the bottom line was that he was not mine, because I didn’t have ownership papers.
Thor is like so many in our world, today. They think just because they are “moral” people, do “good” deeds, or are kind to others, that they somehow are Christians. They may even go to church every time the doors are open. But like Thor, they are deceived. They blend into both worlds because there has never been an ownership change. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24); but many want us to believe that we can accept Christ as a Savior from sin, but not the Lord of our lives.
This is deception. The true Christian is the one who continues to come to Christ always believing in Him. It is ongoing faith, not a one-time act. Christianity goes beyond just “doing;” it is “being”—just as Thor did the right things that made him appear to be mine, but was not. Christianity is calling upon Jesus Christ for salvation, repenting, and selling out to Him with our entire being. It is an ownership change, not just some “good things” we may do.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45–46.
THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Thor
By Deborah Shaffer January 7th, 2026
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24
And then there was Thor. I’ve told you about my two dogs, Sparky and Buddy. Sparky was my hyper, do-anything-for attention Brittany spaniel, and Buddy, was my obedient yellow lab who just wanted to stay as close to me as possible. But let me introduce you to my wanna-be, but confused dog, Thor.
He was a beautiful yellow lab mix that looked just like Buddy, but only bigger. Every day he would join us on my morning run—if he saw us leave the house. He was very attentive and lived for my approval and affection. He was a good dog and I loved him—however, but unfortunately, he wasn’t mine. He thought he was, though! He ate my food, listened to most of my commands, and joined my dogs for all the love and attention he could get. But the truth was that he belonged to my son, who lived around the corner. Thor was confused. He loved both my son and me, and tried his best to serve two masters. But, the bottom line was that he was not mine, because I didn’t have ownership papers.
Thor is like so many in our world, today. They think just because they are “moral” people, do “good” deeds, or are kind to others, that they somehow are Christians. They may even go to church every time the doors are open. But like Thor, they are deceived. They blend into both worlds because there has never been an ownership change. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24); but many want us to believe that we can accept Christ as a Savior from sin, but not the Lord of our lives.
This is deception. The true Christian is the one who continues to come to Christ always believing in Him. It is ongoing faith, not a one-time act. Christianity goes beyond just “doing;” it is “being”—just as Thor did the right things that made him appear to be mine, but was not. Christianity is calling upon Jesus Christ for salvation, repenting, and selling out to Him with our entire being. It is an ownership change, not just some “good things” we may do.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45–46.
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