He Holds the Reins

Some people have the impression that the Christian life is one of restrictive rules.  In fact, quite the opposite is true:  in Christ we have freedoms never before possible, either apart from God or under the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses.  The Bible tells us all people are born sinners, spiritually blinded by darkness, chained and imprisoned awaiting everlasting judgment.  Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind, make the lame to walk, cleanse the lepers, release people from their chains, and raise the dead.  He is the Light of the World that has shined in the darkness, and only He has the words of life.

God does not bring us out of our bondage to Satan, sin, and death, and herd Christians into kennels.  We are no longer shackled in a prison, but are set free.  We have absolute freedom in Christ without fences, walls, chains, a life without guards in turrets armed with high-powered rifles who wait for any excuse to shoot.  God governs us in a completely different way than some might think.  The Holy Spirit leads us from within.  The way the Holy Spirit leads us could be compared to an expert rider holding the reins on a horse.  He does not hem us in with the bars and gates of a corral, but moves us with a gentle tap of the heel, a quiet command understood by our opened ears, and directs us through a tug on the reins.  It is for us to decide if we will heed His guidance or go our own way.  The world sees Christianity as a cramped corral, but in actuality it is a wide-open meadow with plenty of grazing and clean drinking water.  In the presence of our Owner we remain under His protection and care.  He feeds and waters us, scrubs us clean, and tends to our wounds.  We are ever safe with Him, and He has the best plan for our future.

Unless you have experienced a life with God by His grace, this loving relationship cannot be understood or appreciated.  Even those who are born again cannot express fully the thankfulness we have for the God who rescued us in our distress and saved us.  Horses and people are alike in that before we can be useful we must be broken.  God employs many means to break a man, but all healing is found through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Once we learn to submit to His control, we are led out of the paddock and a whole new world opens to us.  As our relationship grows with God so does our trust, and only God knows where He will lead you!  Praise God for His love and gracious governance!