LIFE THROUGH SACRIFICE

9”x12” Original charcoal drawing .

Prophetic meaning:
The more I learn about the humble oxen, the more intrigued and inspired I become. . Oxen are tame, domesticated bulls. They can be trained to obey voice commands and work hard for long periods of time, while only needing about four hours of sleep. They can cope in freezing temperatures and have been used since the beginning of creation, for moving cargo, pulling carts, and ploughing fields. . When oxen pull carts or cargo they are fitted with a yoke around their neck. They often work in pairs of 2, so the two oxen will share the same yoke. In society a yoke is viewed as a sign of oppression, but in reality, the oxen would not be able to do their work without it. The yoke actually makes their job easier and even possible. . You might be wondering why I am sharing all of these facts about oxen and why it even matters. Well, I first read about the Ox in the Bible, which is why I was inspired to create this drawing. . Several times the Bible mentions the Four faces of God, which show us four aspects of God. They are described as the face of a Lion, the face of a Man, the face of an Eagle and the face of an Ox Which take us further into knowing Gods character and deepening our understanding of his heart and nature toward us. . Jesus tells us- “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45 . “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 . Through the burden Jesus carried, we have been forgiven, and by the stripes he bore, we have our healing. His sacrifice gave us life. The Bible reminds us that we have been created in His very own image and likeness. We have been chosen and set aside to complete the task that he gave us, sharing the gift of forgiveness that is available to whoever would call on His name. So, may we offer our bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. For this is true worship.