"1800 pounds of "I'll do whatever the heck I want..."

Ah, car commercials! This car is better than that one. This pick-up outhauls and outsells that one. And then there is the one where a well known actor sits in his luxury crossover and stares an 1800 pound Longhorn bull in the face. I believe the bull's name is Cyrus; a well known entity in those parts since he has a name and is known. The tagline mumbled by the actor is, "1800 pounds of I'll do whatever the heck I want".

All that weight and strength inside of an animal with little or no restraint creates an unpredictable response. I have worked with Black Angus bulls that size and they tend to have a mind of their own. I have witnessed 2x10 planks snap like twigs when a bull decides to exert his will. Barbed wire and electric fences are little deterent to a bull set on going for a run out over the hillside. Introduce a small device (guiding ring) into the nose of a bull and all that shear explosive force is reduced to an obedient 1800 pound bull that will do whatever 'you' want. The procedure of inserting a ring into a bull's nose needs to be done when the animal is less than a year old. Anytime after one year and you're on your own... (Train up a 'child' in the way they should go....) Tougher to train a full grown person than a child.

(Clearly, this bull is not close to 1800 pounds, but I watched my dad handle larger bulls with ease simply

because of the 20 ounce brass ring in the bull's snout.)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,did not

consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,taking the very

nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he

humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8, NIV)

I am amazed how Jesus, the 2nd person of the Trinity, would willingly allow himself to suffer throughout his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. Then I realize that Jesus really "Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels" but chose to die for you and me. Talk about 1800 pounds of I'll do whatever the heck I want!!! God's power to escape suffering was at Jesus' disposal but this was not a weapon Jesus chose to use. Jesus provides for us the model of obedience.

Now, none of us will receive a 20 ounce brass ring into our nasal cartlidge. Although, I guess there are some who have jewelry and adorning rings there. Being obedient to God's will for me does not demean me but provides guidance and clarity. I gladly accept God's gentle hand of correction so that I won't go around like a bull in a china shop. How about you, are you willing to be led by God?