Years ago, my wife and I raised sheep and goats on a ranch with lots of steep canyons. We had to do a lot of horseback riding trying to get those things rounded up that did not want to be rounded up. We started raising horses that were good in rough country. I would halter break the young colts, but when it came to riding them or first training them to saddle, my wife did that. Not only did she enjoy it, but she was good at it. She was gentle with them but stern if they did not do what she wanted. She did not get in a hurry, and I was amazed how they turned out.
Thinking about that reminds me of something in the Bible. God loves us and has a plan for our lives, (Romans 5:8, John 3:16). He wants us to have a special new relationship to Him, (John 1:12, 13).
That new special relationship begins when we confess our sins, call upon Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, (Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:510). Then God through the Holy Spirit works with us to develop us in a way that brings honor to his name, (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
To become that beautiful person, we must be willing to cooperate with God and give up the bad things and put on the good things, (2 Timothy 2:21, Ephesians 4:30). See you in Church next Sunday.