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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 62

Topic: Lose To Win

Series: DuckTales

Episode: Horse Scents

Lesson PDF link: 62.pdf

Introduction

What is your favorite job that you have ever done? The next question is what has God called you to be or grooming you for, so to speak?

Personally, I think that God has been grooming me from the beginning for a pastor role, because I have always been learning lessons from cartoons from when I was a boy. I have tried many crazy jobs (like fast food, daycare etc), but I now know that I wasn't suited for those and failed miserably at them anyway. As jobs go, I think I have found my true love and being a pastor is my favorite. If God turns me into something else, then I am sure it will still be better.

We are going to watch a few clips from the DuckTales episode Horse Scents. Kentucky Derby season has just past, so this is a neat lesson in my opinion to see now. I want you to tell me what job you see this horse having potential in doing.

Now, we will see the first clip of Horse Scents.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

What jobs or skills do you see? What do you think of Bull Weevil?

Milady is a horse that loves the camera and you can tell how loving she is, but is this the job for her; she never gets any business except Webby? At the end of the clip, we see she can be a racehorse if she sets her mind to it. Let's watch the second clip.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

What jobs or skills do you see here? She is very charming and loving, which are traits that a lot of people don't have--these are truly skills to be reckoned with if done right. Milady somehow wins Scrooge over and has a chance to race.

Let's watch the third clip.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

What skills or jobs do you see?

There isn't much here, except if you look at the characteristics that we see more closely. Milady still loves the camera and can't get out of the mindset. Everyone sees her as a racehorse now because of how she ran earlier and not a horse that just wants to take it easy. Racing may not be her thing, or is it?

Let's watch clip 4.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

Do you think Milady would make a good workhorse?

The answer is obvious, Milady would not be, as she is very stubborn when she doesn't want to do anything and has her own way of doing things. I think our bad guy would be disappointed in Milady as any kind of workhorse and won't do anything she doesn't want to do, especially for our villain Bull Weevil. Milady seems to run only when Bull Weevil talks meanly and abusively, when she's scared.

Let's watch clip 5.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

What jobs or skills do you see?

In this case, there is one--Milady could be a cavalry horse. This is interesting seeing how easy going she is. She looks kind of scared when she hears the bugle, but she responds beautifully and pays attention as you will see.

In this lesson so far, we have seen many different surprising things about this horse. Milady can be a camera star, a racehorse, a work horse, a cavalry horse, or she can just be loving and kind having only maybe a few that she touches.

God would always have a plan for such a horse, let's see what she truly is.

Let's watch clip 6.

DuckTales: Horse Scents: Direct link for video/webm

What jobs do you see?

Milady could have been a champion racehorse, but she chose the camera. As it turns out, if she would have won, she would have lost; Milady would be working for the bad guy and wouldn't be very happy; she made the right decision. Milady lost the race to win in life.

Let's take a look at Webby, who is the one that really influences the horse. They are friends. This is Webby's gift all through the series and likely can easily be what God wants for her.

Favorite jobs are one thing, but they mean little to the big picture without God.

Let's look at Luke 14: 7-11

Luk 14:7 When Jesus noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor, he told them a parable.

Luk 14:8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don't sit down at the place of honor in case someone more important than you was invited by the host.

Luk 14:9 Then the host who invited both of you would come to you and say, 'Give this person your place.' In disgrace, you would have to take the place of least honor.

Luk 14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, 'Friend, move up higher,' and you will be honored in the presence of everyone who eats with you.

Luk 14:11 Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted."

What do you see that would match the cartoon?

At first not much, but look again. These are instructions about humbling oneself. This means we need to be ready for whatever God has for us and it is our duty and privilege to get the message about what God is turning us into. There are lots of places of worldly honor and fame when it comes to jobs; landing one is a privilege in itself, but this isn't always God's plan. Milady's job is just to be a friendly restful animal that loves the camera and to be satisfied with that, along with making the owner a living. Luckily, Milady chose the right owner as we need to. We need to be humble and kind, not greedy for position like a lot of the world.

Our true job as Christians is to be valuable disciples in Christ and be willing to do what God commands us to become.

Let's look at Luke 14: 25-33

Luk 14:25 Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned and told them,

Luk 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can't be my disciple.

Luk 14:27 Whoever doesn't carry his cross and follow me can't be my disciple.

Luk 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it, won't he?

Luk 14:29 Otherwise, if he lays a foundation and can't finish the building, everyone who watches will begin to ridicule him

Luk 14:30 and say, 'This person started a building but couldn't finish it.'

Luk 14:31 "Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He will first sit down and consider whether with 10,000 men he can fight the one coming against him with 20,000 men, won't he?

Luk 14:32 If he can't, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other king is still far away.

Luk 14:33 In the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions."

We are going to look at 2 Timothy 4: 1-8, but before we do, I want to say that we need to weigh the cost of discipleship. This means that any possession we have needs to be ready for God's use on cue--no waiting. This is easy to say, but hard to put into practice. We need to surrender everything for the cause of Christ; this means house, land, money, jobs. If someone doesn't agree with the decision to follow Christ, then we must do it anyway; the reaction of man shouldn't and mustn't matter. Let's choose the right owner. Then we will truly be able to say Paul's words here:

2Ti 4:1 In the presence of God and the Messiah Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you

2Ti 4:2 to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires.

2Ti 4:4 They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths.

2Ti 4:5 But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry.

2Ti 4:6 I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my departure has come.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.

2Ti 4:8 The victor's crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.

When we surrender everything to Jesus everything that makes us who we are, we will find our true calling and our job as a disciple because we'll be groomed for anything God desires us to be. Don't worry about other peoples reactions, concentrate on God and ministry. Family is important, but not as important as God is. We can't let ridicule or opinions rule the day that are not holy. Once we learn this, eventually everything locks into place and satisfaction in Christ will begin and grow strong as can be. No one can ever stop a person with this kind of faith walk. We have to lose the world's race to find our spiritual job and win that race. This easily may translate into a physical job of God's choosing that you may not have known you could even be close to being suited for. Being a disciple of Christ is the best job anyone can ever ask for.