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A goad is a sharp stick used to drive animals. The apostle Paul reported Jesus saying to him, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14)
The Lord has whispered that to me, explaining the goad. The goad is His love, mercy and grace. It is who He is, and He is no sharp stick. He is all that is beautiful, kind, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. Once we become His beloved children, He prods with all the delicious fruit of His Holy Spirit. His fruit includes unconditional love, joy, and peace. It includes patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, moderation.
He goads, or spurs me on, with encouraging edification, building me up. His words are sweeter than honey. Why do we resist so great a salvation? We may have accepted it once when we came into His family, but sometimes we reject it daily. We tend to strive in our own strength and follow our own anxious thoughts.
I don’t want to kick against Jesus. He doesn’t goad with sharp sticks. He loved me into His arms in the first place, and He continues to do so. He loves me into obedience. The sharp and painful wounds come when I choose things outside of His will. The pains come from the world and its lies, not from Jesus. Just as He forgave the mocking thief who repented on the cross, He forgives me every time. He always has more grace, mercy, and forgiveness than I’ll ever need.
He has it all, all I want or need. Apart from Him, life is empty and tasteless, devoid of beauty. When I just think about Him, the details of leaves, flowers, and faces come into sharper focus. Each one is a gift of love.
Kick against the goad of His love? I don’t want to do that any more. I’ve done it enough, and it always led to a pit. He leads me into the green pastures of His presence. He restores my soul.
His adventures are exciting. Ultimately, they are safe. They’re safe because even death will only drive me into His arms. Even that inevitable goad cannot hurt me. Paul reminds me in 1st Corinthians 15:55, “Grave, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
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