Dan was driving a team of mules down the main street of town one day when suddenly a voice from the sidewalk shouted, “Whoa!”
The mules were very glad to come to an immediate stop, and Dan looked around to see who had called. A man standing on the curb was grinning, so Dan knew that he was having some fun with him. Slapping the reins on the mules’ backs, Dan called “Giddap!”
But the mules were not at all anxious to move! It took a good bit of coaxing and prodding before they finally decided to stir. Again came the voice from the sidewalk, “Whoa!”
The mules stopped again. This time Dan was vexed, and his face got red with impatience and embarrassment. But the mules wouldn’t start again. They liked to hear that command from the sidewalk more than the voice of their master. When they finally decided to move, the man shouted again, “Whoa!”
By this time, quite a crowd had gathered and was enjoying the fun. Finally the man got tired of his game and walked away. Poor Dan hurried his wagon and team out of sight as fast as he could coax the slow-moving mules on their way.
The Bible tells us, “Be ye not... as the mule.” (Psa. 32:99Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. (Psalm 32:9).) How many boys and girls, and older folks, too, have stubborn natures like Dan’s mules? They would rather have their own way than to listen to what the Lord would have them do.
Dan’s mules were listening to the wrong voice. And two voices are speaking to you today, dear reader. I wonder which voice you will listen to.
One voice is that of the Lord Jesus. He wants you to come to Him and let Him be your Saviour from sin. He promises you a gift if you will do so. The other voice tells you to live on in your sin, pleasing only yourself and having your own way. And he promises you wages. That is the voice of Satan.
Listen, dear boys and girls. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).)
“Be ye not... as the mule.”
ML-07/30/1978