Tamed by God

Six weeks ago Jesus held out His hand and asked me to be His servant. He asked me to dance. I jumped up gleefully and accepted. I couldn't wait for what was to come. Four weeks ago I wrote and sent my last email for Christ@Work. Then I disappeared. Want to know what happened? Want to know where I've been all this time?

I ran away.

I spit the bridle and bit out of my mouth, shook off the reins with a snort and a whinny, vaulted the corral fence and galloped straight for the woods. The wind in my mane reminded me of the maverick I once was. It felt good to run free again, to go wherever I wanted to go, to do whatever I wanted to do, to return to the wild untamed world of self-reliance, self-assurance, self-worth.

Then last week a word from a Bible teacher floated through the air past my ears: "Meek is an equestrian term." And a few days ago, a dear friend, a sparkling reflection of His light, reminded me of Romans 12 and what I wrote about giving Him all of me, not just my mind and spirit.

(See The Perfect Gift)

I was free again all right. Free to be undisciplined. Free to be weak. Free to screw up. Free to fail to be all that I was created to be. Free to be stupid.

And free to humbly return to the discipleship stable of my Lord and Savior because another dear friend was wondering where the emails had gone.

Blessed are the meek (Matthew 5:5). Blessed are the wimpy? Blessed are the pushovers? Blessed are the content and happy? Not! The word we translate as “meek” is from the Greek term "praus". It denotes strength brought under control. The ancient Greeks employed the term to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle. "Meek" is an equestrian term. Now I get it. It means "steerable." It means "disciplined." A bridled horse is not a weaker horse. It is stronger, smarter, and of much more use to its master. Perhaps this is the core character of any "disciple" of Jesus. How can I follow Him if I can't feel His bridle in my mouth and His reins on my cheeks?

Blessed are the steerable for they shall inherit the earth…for they shall inherit the strength, wisdom, and love of the One who created this garden Earth and all that dwells within it. Can there be any greater inheritance than that?

Seek the LORD, all you steerable of the earth! I am seeking God again, listening for His voice. I am awaiting the gentle tug of my Lord and Master at the reins of my life. His bridle feels good on my face. His bit tastes sweet in my mouth.

And from deep within the Torah rises an ancient message of hope and deliverance: Num 12:3 (KJV) Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.

Lord, I may not be that great, strong, steerable, work horse of a man who lead a million people from slavery through the desert and to the Promised Land, but I am willing to lead people to You, one disciple at a time. Lead me. Grab me by the reins and steer me. Help me become all that You created me to be…and to do all that you need me to do on this side of Eternity. Amen.