It isn't difficult to obey; we provide all he needs for life and all we ask is that he keep to his own food and not follow his instincts to eat everything; there's the rub. It is just like our obedience, God provides all we need for life and godliness 2 Peter 1:3, but it seems hard and narrow; we are called to act a certain way, love a certain way and become more and more like our Master, trouble is we have so many survival instincts and natural pulls towards fun and ease that we sometimes end up like our pet Wilbur, with a face full of pleasure and a heart full of shame. (He won't look when he's ashamed).
What are we to do when life seems burdensome and our responsibilities more like obligations than opportunities? To face the world able to bear what is required of us, to be fully ourselves, using all our gifts and talents, free from survival instincts and raw sin, is challenging indeed. Maybe we need a shock collar too; instead God gives us gentleness. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28, 29
How gentle are you with yourself and others?
Medicine from Sacred Writing:
"Fear not, nor start away from the yoke that lightens you from many things, but put yourself under it with all forwardness, then you shall know the pleasure of it. For this yoke does not bruise your neck at all, but is put on you for good order's sake only, and to persuade you to walk well and lead you to the royal road, and to deliver you from precipices on every side, and to make you walk with ease on the narrow way. Since then so great are its benefits, so great its security, so great its gladness, let us with all our soul, with all our diligence, draw this yoke that we might find rest for our souls.
John Chrysostom Fourth Century
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