Are You As Stubborn As A Mule?

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. ~ Psalm 32:8-10

We learn from these verses that God will instruct us and teach us the way that we should go. He will guide us with his eye! He is willing to impart to us wisdom and guidance. He wants to direct all our paths.

Interestingly, He also tells us to not be like a horse or mule. What does He mean by that?

In order to get a horse or mule to follow your lead and do as you are directing it to do, you must use a bit or bridle on it. The former will inflict a slight pain under the animal's tongue. These instruments are necessary to control the animal.

Why?

Because the animal has a will of it's own. He may stubbornly want to go in his own direction. Yet, a slight tug on the bit and bridle will prompt the large beast to comply to your will and go the direction you desire. He can be made willing to follow your lead.

God doesn't want us to be like that. He doesn't want to have to use a 'bit' or 'bridle' on us, so to speak, in order to make us willing to follow His lead. He wants us to be willing of our own accord. He wants us to humbly submit to His guidance and instruction. He does not want us to be as the horse or as the mule.

Are you willing surrendered to God's guidance and leadership or are you being as stubborn as a mule?

Have You Forsaken All Your Idols?

"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

The Apostle Paul instructed the Christians at Colosse to:

'Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.' (Colossians 3:5)

Mortify means to put to death. He told the early Christians to put these types of deeds to death in their mortal bodies. That is, he was telling them not to practice these things.

You will note that he likened coveting specifically to idolatry. What is coveting you may ask?

Coveting is being greedy. It is having a miserly desire to gain or horde wealth, even to the extent of fraud or extortion. It can also mean to eagerly wish for something of pleasure or gain beyond what you currenlty have.

Now, the question is, 'Have you turned from idols to serve the living and true God?'

What Are Your Days Like?

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good: let him seek peace, and ensue it.
~ 1Peter 3:10-11

What kind of days are you having? Good or bad? Would you like to see good days? Are you doing the things necessary for that?

By the way, the wages of sin is death. So, ask yourself, 'Do I really love life?'