Floggin' the resurrected horse.

"And you, although you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all formerly lived in the desires of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the mind, and we were children of wrath by nature, as also the rest of them were.

But God(!), being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, and we being dead in trespasses, he made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and raised together and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, in order that he might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we may walk in them."  Eph 2

It may feel like we're beating a dead horse here (see what i did there?) but it's only because we're trying to remind him that he isn't dead anymore.  Christ has resurrected him!  He is a new horse!  You are a new horse!  You went looking for water on your own and like that skeleton in the cowboy movies, you found the alkali flats that only look like water. 

But God! 

God has knitted you together, new flesh to bone, heart of flesh instead of stone, and he has led you to green, fertile pastures (himself) and beside still waters (himself) and he speaks tenderly to you, he leads you now and he will use bit and bridle if he must but he'd rather you knew your owner, your master, your friend, be guided by knee pressure and soft word.  That's humility.  A horse is not weak.  If it was, it wouldn't be useful.  It is strong, it is fast, it is an image of power.  Humility is not weakness.  It's meekness.  Power restrained.  Power under control.  Power for a purpose.  It is knowing your place, knowing your relationship to the master, trusting your friend.  The horse does not choose the way unless the rider gives him the reins.  And when that happens the horse thinks with it's stomach.  It goes to water, it goes to grass, it goes to the stable, it goes to comfort.  Horses don't choose noble paths, glorious paths for their riders and themselves.  The master does that.  The knight to battle, the wrangler to cattle, the jockey over the fence, round the steeple and to the finish line, as hard as we can go, hell bent for leather.

Okay, i think i've flogged that metaphor into the dust but you take my meaning.  "It is hard for you to kick against the goads."  You have been made new, you have been given a new name, a new life, a new purpose and a new Master.  Will you obey?  Will you submit?  Will you carry this King who died for you, will you bear this Master who serves you, will you love this Friend who loves you?  Yes, it may go places you don't want to go, it won't always be comfortable, there won't always be a warm stable, or enough fodder or as much water as you would like but you will have what you need, Him, He will be there with you in all of it and He guarantees as surely as He lives and by the same proof, it will be glorious!