Bess is only two years old, but she stands head and shoulders taller than most grown men. She has four strong legs, a graceful head and neck, powerful shoulders, and a silky, flaxen mane and tail. A powerful draft horse capable of pulling heavy loads, Bess has great potential.

But in her current state, Bess is practically useless. She almost always gets her way because she is the biggest horse on the farm. One time she charged through her iron-rail fence enclosure. On another occasion she tried to attack the person who was feeding her. When it's time to eat, Bess pushes and shoves her way to the hay, knocking other horses aside. The other horses bite and kick her. Bess simply ignores them.

One day an experienced horse trainer came to the town where Bess lives. Bess's owner asked the trainer if he would work with Bess. "Yes," he replied, "Bess sounds like she'll be a real challenge."

That evening in the horse corral, Bess received her first lesson. The trainer led Bess around in a circle by guiding her with a lead rope. Bess cooperated until the trainer asked her to stop. "Whoa!" he called again, this time striking Bess on the chest with a knotted rope in a rhythmic fashion. Eventually, Bess stopped. The trainer stopped striking Bess with the rope. He rubbed her neck affectionately, then made a clicking sound with his tongue. Bess resumed walking. In a few moments, he called"Whoa!" again. Before long, Bess was stopping on command, but then a new problem developed. When the trainer called, "Whoa!" Bess would stop, but then she would quickly move her hind legs away from the trainer. He explained that this was Bess's way of saying, "I'll do what you say, even though I don't really want to."

As the trainer continued to work with Bess, he said that what he was really after was Bess's heart. "Bess hasn't obeyed until she shows with her whole body that she has submitted to my command." Patiently the trainer worked with Bess for the next hour. One time Bess got so upset with him that she reared up on her back legs. but his response toward her remained a consistent show of love, firmness, and affection. He was not willing to settle for anything less than "heart obedience" from this obstinate horse. Her first lesson in obedience was learning to listen to her trainer.

God has given us parents to instruct us and lead us to Him. What does He ask of children?

Look up the following texts in your Bible and fill in the blanks.*

"Children,____________ your parents in all things, for this is _____________________to the Lord. Colossians 3:20

"My son, ___________ the instruction of your _____________, And do not forsake the law of your __________; " Proverbs 1:8

Has your mom or dad ever asked you to do something you didn't feel like doing?

Bess demonstrated "outside" obedience when she did what the trainer said, but then swung her back legs away from him as if to say, "I'll do what you say but I don't really want to." The Bible calls this kind of obedience "works of the law" (see Galatians 2:16). But when we receive God's love into our hearts, obedience is no longer a hardship----in fact, the Bible calls it a delight!

"For this is the love of ________, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not ______________." 1 John 5:3

I delight to do Your _______, O my God, And Your law is within my _________________." Psalm 40:8

Heart obedience is what Bess's trainer is after, and that's what your parents, and God, desire from you.

"Now the purpose of the commandment is ________from a pure __________, from a good _____________, and from sincere _________," 1 Timothy 1:5

We can't muster that kind of obedience by trying hard. It's impossible. But we can receive it as a precious gift from Jesus.

_____________ * These texts are from the New King James Version, but you may use the King James or other versions to fill in the blanks.

Published in the 1888 Message Newsletter, March-May 2000.

Used with permission.

Published in the 1888 Message Newsletter