My father-in-law used to have German Shorthaired bird dogs. They were nice looking, muscular dogs. He told me the story of when he was trying to train one of them he used a “shock collar.” The idea was that when the dog started chasing something he was not supposed to chase, like a rabbit or a squirrel, you would shock him to discourage bad behavior and keep him concentrated on finding birds.

One dog named Hans was pretty stubborn. He took off after a rabbit, and my father-in-law hit the button. The dog stopped for a moment, scrunched up his face a bit, and then kept on chasing the rabbit.

I read online that particular breed of dogs is incredibly intelligent and normally easy to train, but it can be challenging and frustrating when they’re younger. The puppy years come with these challenges: High energy, attention problems, willfulness and independence.

Maybe that is a good illustration of being “stiff-necked.” That term is used about 20 times in Scripture, mostly in the Old Testament. But Stephen also used it when addressing the charges against him, just before he was stoned to death.

Acts 7:51–53 “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

The term comes from an animal stiffening its neck to try to keep a yoke from being placed upon it. God wanted His chosen people of Israel to bear the yoke of obedience to Him and His Laws, but they kept stubbornly refusing. So He called them “stiff-necked,” just as Stephen did in Acts 7.

How often do you stubbornly refuse to do what God calls you to do? Are you obstinate when it comes to conforming your life to God’s will? Most of us are. Even when we know all that God has done for us in sending Jesus to be our Savior, we still want to go our own way, chasing that rabbit when we should be concentrating on living the new life to which God has called us.

We strive to live this way BECAUSE we are already saved. Jesus earned our forgiveness and salvation. What we do by bearing the yoke God gives is our attempt at gratitude.

Instead of being “stiff-necked,” God would have us be steadfast and immovable as His followers.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

And He will give us the power to be that way. It is always available, if we would just take advantage of it.

1 Peter 5:8–10 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God will make you firm and steadfast. Ask Him to do so.