Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “Don’t Try to Walk before You Can Crawl” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/17/08)
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TITLE: The Enemy and the Yoke | Previous Challenge Entry
By Norm MacDonald
01/22/08 -
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How subtle is the enemy in this life. He is no barker of sin or herald of anarchy. He simply slips in and peels back our ability to focus. One annoying layer at a time, he strips our mind of those things we would "think on." It is not as though he says, “Now I am going to put evil and lewd thoughts in your mind. You will not be able to resist so there is no use in trying.” He simply chooses to deceive us with rational thoughts. He knows in our mind we will conclude, there is the next hour, the next day, the next month, we can surely recoup the forgiveness we need. Then we move on under the deception of holiness until we face the struggle again.
His greatest deception is that it is only “you” that has this problem. Most normal followers of the Christ, have things under control. Then again, there was Judas. He failed the test and took a course of action few of us would ponder. We simply choose the repentance and forgiveness isle because we know the shelves are stocked. But, are they?
"Practice makes perfect", as the saying goes, but that is not true and the enemy desperately hopes we do not discover that. It is perfect practice that makes perfect. It is the complete desire to please the God of our salvation that produces fruit and ensures acceptance. Yet, the enemy would rather have us believe that trying and failing is what practice is all about. However, trying and failing is just exactly that - failing. Nevertheless, he paints a brighter picture. A picture drawn in pencil for he knows it will be erased as soon as he deflects our attention. Even we know it will be erased, but somehow we want to think the lie is the truth. With enough practice we can overcome the thing that haunts us. Alas, it will never be.
So how do we overcome? How do we find that which we need to survive? How do we turn away from what it is that haunts the recesses of our mind and tugs at our soul? Have we not learned that “The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak?” (Matt. 26:41)
So where do we find the strength we need? We find it knowing that we cannot and will not survive without putting ourselves under the influence of eternity’s strength. Placing our necks in the yoke that eases the burden and doubles our energy is the only way. For it was the one who was tempted like we, yet yielded not, that says to us…
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30)
Just as the woodsman knows the value of a sharp ax, so too will we learn the value of being yoked with the Christ. For he knows to turn away from the enemy when he hears his song of deception. Thus, when the yoke turns, whether it is what we might think we want or not, our head turns also. It is in that twin aversion we find solitary strength.
So go ahead deceitful one whisper your empty words, paint your conniving pictures, I am on my way for a fitting – a fitting for a yoke that will be your undoing.
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You have some good thoughts here, but a few more examples would have helped the reader to relate to them.
good job...keep writing.