WHEN the Williams family from New York City were visiting a ranch in Wyoming, they were taken out for a horseback ride. However, before they got to the coal where the riding horses were, Johnny spotted some beautiful mustangs out in the field.
“I want to ride those horses, Daddy,” exclaimed Johnny. But the rancher told him he could not ride those mustangs because they had not been “broken.” “They would buck you right off,” he told Johnny. So they rode on the riding horses.
In the Bible (Luke 19:29-4029And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Luke 19:29‑40)), you can read the story of how the Lord Jesus rode a wild little donkey, just like the wild mustangs in our story. Even though the little donkey had never been broken, it did not try to get rid of the Lord Jesus, but went on its way quiet, obedient and good.
When we are born, we are like the little donkey and those mustangs; we have a wild nature that wants to go its own way. We need to have our wills broken before we can be of any use to the Lord Jesus. We need to be saved, to have a new birth, to own the claims of the Lord Jesus over us and to submit to His will. Only by His grace can we do this. When we come and tell Him that we are rebellious, disobedient sinners, and ask Him to come into our hearts, He will cleanse us from all our sin; He will give us a new life and a new nature the same as His, one that delights to please Him and go in the way He would have us go.
ML-05/06/1973