Some People Make it Harder Than it Needs to Be
“It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” –Acts 9:5 KJV.
I had to ask my high school bible class teacher what this phrase means. It has something to do with ox-goads and ornery oxen, which kick back at the drover when he commands them to “gee” and “haw.” My friends from earlier generations informed me of some of the nuances of working with mules and oxen. “Gee” means for the animal to turn right, “haw” means to turn left. In England, the terms are reversed. Go figure.
Paul was being chided for being an unruly ox. His call from God involved a blinding light and time to think about the things he had done. For Paul it worked. Afterward, he would be fond of saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.” --1 Tim 1:15 NIV.
I thought about the unruly ox while on a ride-along with a police officer the other night. The officer had picked me up at about 11:00 p.m. and intended to take me back home around 1:00 in the morning. About that time, a car sped by us at a high rate of speed. As Chuck floored the police cruiser, I asked if I could holler “Yee-Haw,” while we flew over a railroad track. We stopped the speeder, who turned out to be a difficult individual. He wasn’t quite drunk, but clearly out of his mind. Chuck said it was perfectly legal to operate a motor vehicle while one is out of one’s mind (doesn’t that make you feel safer?) so he couldn’t arrest the driver on that basis. However, the individual began to argue with the police officer and berate him.
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” the officer barked. On went the cuffs, and downtown we went, after waiting for a wrecker to come and impound the car. The staff at the jail processed the individual, fitting him with an orange jump suit and plastic slippers. He would be held in a safe room until he either was charged with a crime and bonded out or someone came to take him home, after paying the appropriate fines. All because he copped an attitude with the police. A respectful demeanor, cooperating and saying, “Yes, officer,” would have saved us all a great deal of trouble.
The 13th chapter of Romans addresses this. Paul instructs Christians to be respectful toward the police and all authority. Those in authority are servants of God to execute wrath on the wrong-doer (vs 4). “Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due,” commands the apostle.
Respect authority. Let others be defiant, but you’ll save yourself a world of trouble if you are respectful and obedient citizens.
I had to ask my high school bible class teacher what this phrase means. It has something to do with ox-goads and ornery oxen, which kick back at the drover when he commands them to “gee” and “haw.” My friends from earlier generations informed me of some of the nuances of working with mules and oxen. “Gee” means for the animal to turn right, “haw” means to turn left. In England, the terms are reversed. Go figure.
Paul was being chided for being an unruly ox. His call from God involved a blinding light and time to think about the things he had done. For Paul it worked. Afterward, he would be fond of saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.” --1 Tim 1:15 NIV.
I thought about the unruly ox while on a ride-along with a police officer the other night. The officer had picked me up at about 11:00 p.m. and intended to take me back home around 1:00 in the morning. About that time, a car sped by us at a high rate of speed. As Chuck floored the police cruiser, I asked if I could holler “Yee-Haw,” while we flew over a railroad track. We stopped the speeder, who turned out to be a difficult individual. He wasn’t quite drunk, but clearly out of his mind. Chuck said it was perfectly legal to operate a motor vehicle while one is out of one’s mind (doesn’t that make you feel safer?) so he couldn’t arrest the driver on that basis. However, the individual began to argue with the police officer and berate him.
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” the officer barked. On went the cuffs, and downtown we went, after waiting for a wrecker to come and impound the car. The staff at the jail processed the individual, fitting him with an orange jump suit and plastic slippers. He would be held in a safe room until he either was charged with a crime and bonded out or someone came to take him home, after paying the appropriate fines. All because he copped an attitude with the police. A respectful demeanor, cooperating and saying, “Yes, officer,” would have saved us all a great deal of trouble.
The 13th chapter of Romans addresses this. Paul instructs Christians to be respectful toward the police and all authority. Those in authority are servants of God to execute wrath on the wrong-doer (vs 4). “Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due,” commands the apostle.
Respect authority. Let others be defiant, but you’ll save yourself a world of trouble if you are respectful and obedient citizens.
posted by Unknown @ 11:53 AM
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