Quit Kicking Against the Pricks

I imagine one is wondering what does it mean to "kick against the pricks"? So, I did some research and here is what it means. Anyone who makes a living doing agriculture would be very familiar with this term.

An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered.

In the Scriptures, Jesus' words to Saul on the road to Damascus: "It is hard for you to kick against the pricks." (Acts 26:14). Paul was very zealous for Judaism, but he was going in the wrong direction. So the Lord stopped him.

How many times has the Lord stopped us from going in the wrong direction? Does the Lord have to apply the disciplinary stick to us?

Let's apply this verse to our daily lives, so that we will run our earthly race well on our way to our heavenly home.

Let's not be like a rebellious animal, but submit to the Lord's will for our lives.