I use this bible verse as one of my guardrails and plumb lines in helping me walk the walk Christ inspires in my life. I like this verse because it is simple in explanation. The question asked in the verse answers a lot of the guesswork that comes up in my life. Another way to interpret this verse is by asking, “Will God agree with this?”
Please forgive my slight touches of sarcasm as I have seen this movie replayed over and over again in the last thirty-five years in different ministries. I am not saying that marriages do not work when one is serving the Lord and the other wants nothing to do with God. Yes, they love each other and life goes on; however, the number one thing on the heart of one who is serving the Lord is that God would save their spouse. They spend the rest of their lives wanting, wishing and praying for that blessed event to take place.
Thank God when it occasionally happens, but more often than not these people end up separated and many times the parties involved end up mad at God. It is very hard to reason with people who are in love with each other. They have this Teflon covering over their ability to see the potential pitfalls that may be just around the corner of their covenanted commitment. God is either the Lord of all or not at all and that is also in marriage.
When a new young bull was to be fitted with a yoke and be taught how to pull, he was paired off with an older bull who already knew how to work and pull. The trained bull would, by default of being yoked to the young one, would train the young one how to pull without the yoke chafing and gouging the animal. The young bull, also by default of the yoke, would learn how to work side by side with the more experienced bull and the work got done.
In our case, the yoke is easy because Christ Himself is right there beside us going through life. We are step-in-step with our Lord. Therefore, not an irksome or chaffing experience unless we are pulling in the opposite direction.
As Amos points out so well in Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? The beauty of being human is that we have a free choice to walk through this life with or without listening to God. Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Hopefully, we have learned over the years to do our best to be in agreement with God and obey Him because He is Lord. God bless you all.
Great blog! Thank you for your teachings Sir Norm!