NECK REIN HORSE ADVANTAGE
A neck rein horse acts like a car with automatic transmission. Lots of horses only respond to the rider when they feel a yank on the reins and a tug at the bit. Unless you jerk that hard metal against their mouth, they don’t respond. Well, that resembles a standard transmission. You can get them to go where you want, but only if you work at it.
But you train a neck rein horse to respond to commands only by applying the gentle touch of leather reins against the horse’s neck. Just that light touch of leather tells the animal what to do.
Teaching Quick Response
It’s an absolute pleasure to own and ride a horse trained this way. They respond quickly to your command, seem eager to please, and enjoy relieving you of the need to fight for control.
A Spiritual Neck Rein
I figure the Lord wants to neck-rein disciple us, in a spiritual sense. He can certainly get our attention by using harsh discipline. Sometimes He sends a trial, testing, temptation, or a fiery dart from Satan. He can allow a tragedy, a humbling, a physical infirmity, or anything else to get us to change directions.
But I think He’d just as soon give us gentle commands, if we’d only quickly be obedient to His control.
Gentle Nudges Preferred
That seems to be what Paul calls upon in 2 Corinthians 10:1. He states that “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you …” Paul hopes the church in Corinth will become neck reined. A gentle nudge will help swing the believers back up the trail of spiritual truth.
But if they absolutely refuse to respond to the gentle leading, then he warns what will happen.
“This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority … the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down” (2 Corinthians 13:10).
God As Trainer
Paul reminds them, just as the Lord reminds us, God’s control will come into our lives. Because we belong to him, we stand responsible for our every action before Him.
Whether that control comes as gently as neck reining a horse, or as harsh as a yank on the steel bit, depends on how responsive we choose to be.
Stephen Bly
Circa 1995
Woman & Horse with reins Image by Sergio Cerrato – Italia from Pixabay
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“The Joy of a Neck Rein Horse” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
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