"Horseman"

They say he earned his PhD,

With snorty broncs and colts,

Not in a college classroom,

But where horses buck and bolt.

He toes a stirrup daily,

To perfect his horsemanship,

Though top hand in every way,

He’s humble every trip.

He thinks “horse” and light of hand,

What he asks them to do,

Is really something fine to see,

A pleasure it is true.

Coercion not a part of it,

But a bonding way to trust,

The thing he asks the horse to do,

He does without a fuss.

And so I think of how God works,

To teach us how to live,

Not with harsh old anger,

But a bond of trust to give.

To show us if we will comply,

The blessing’s worth it all,

And we enjoy our purpose,

By answering His call.

He gives pressure, then relieves,

To show the easy yoke,

The one authentic way to peace,

And that is true, no joke.

So the Lord will have His way,

If we accept His love,

It leads us into who we are,

The kin of God above.

“…He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:10, NAS)

The Lord trains us through moments of discipline.so that we may share in His holiness. His goal is to help us fulfill our purpose and to be like Jesus in every way. Sometimes pressure is necessary, and though it is uncomfortable, it shows how much He loves us. Just as the horseman builds trust and applies pressure then releases it, so God works with us to shape our lives and bring us into blessing. There are no shortcuts, and untested people are ultimately unreliable. But those who press through and learn the lessons of discipline enjoy a peaceful harvest of righteousness.

Lord, teach us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.