The Living of God’s Word
by Sharon Stuart-Reidenbach
, Interrupting
scripture is tricky.
Some concepts we
understand. But others
make us ask, “How can
this apply to the
circumstances I’m
facing?” For example
Ephesians 5:15-21
teaches us to
walk wisely, avoid
undesirable influences,
make the most of our
time,
discern the will of God,
be filled with the
spirit, give thanks in
all
things, and submit to
one another in the fear
of God. It’s that last
part that sends shivers
up our spine—submitting.
We fear of someone
else controlling us. But
the Bible defines
submission as a military
term—willingly to
arrange oneself under
another—not “unthinking”
obedience.
We make
plans and choices and
think what we are doing
is
right. Sometimes,
however, these innocent
plans sideswipe us and
we’re
laid back on our heels
wondering, “What
happened?” Through the
movie,
The Horse Whisper, I
will illustrate how
God’s word applies
outside of
the Christian academia-
where most of us live.
In the movie a young
girl and her friend plan
an early morning horse
ride. It’s a beautiful,
frosty day. All goes
well until they make an
unwise choice to go up a
steep, icy bank,
resulting in a tragic
accident. The horse is
mutilated beyond
recognition. The star of
the
show loses her friend
and her leg, and is also
mutilated mentally.
Her mother won’t put the
horse down. When the
horse can travel, she
takes these two broken,
untrusting creatures,
out west to a man with a
mysterious talent –
talking to horses.
The mysterious man,
Robert Redford, watches
and observes them. He
knows there isn’t much
time before they both go
under. Does he realize
he’ll follow the
instructions in
Ephesians 5? I don’t
think so. But
gradually Redford’s
unique gift works
wonders with the girl’s
heart
and the horse’s spirit.
With us too, the Lord
places people in our
path to help transform
us.
Here, Redford is the one
the Lord used. He
creates an atmosphere of
hope that there is still
a life to live. The girl
and the horse take
the first step—they
chose to listen. The
second step is trusting
this
unusual man. Their final
hurdle is submitting—
willing to place them
self under his authority
for wellness.
Did Redford consciously
say, “Lo, I come to do
Thy will, O God
(Hebrews 10: 9)?” No,
but God used him for His
purpose: to bring life
back to two of His dying
creations.
Let’s walk through
Ephesians 5: the girls
made unwise choices; the
mother listened to her
heart instead of to
destructive influences;
Redford understood time
was a premium; He didn’t
shy away from using
the filling of his gift;
and finally, the horse
and girl voluntarily
submit, and finally the
praise of healing.
Is this a stretch?
Perhaps. But it’s real.
Be encouraged. As we
place
ourselves under God’s
protection, He rewards
our submitting with His
outpouring love that
meets us in our common,
daily lives.
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