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Avoiding Squabbles Between Cowboys

¹ Listen up, when you have a squabble with another of God's cowboys, why in the world would you go to an outsider to judge who is right? That's like letting a city slicker judge the rodeo. ² Don't you know God's cowboys will get to judge the world when the time comes? If God is going to let you judge the world, can't you handle a little squabble between two cowboys? ³ Did you not know we will even judge angels? If you can ride that bronc, can't you handle a little crow-hop between cowboys? ⁴ When these little squabbles come up, I don't understand why you'd trust outsiders with knowing what is right or wrong when they don't even know where right and wrong comes from. ⁵ Y'all should be hanging your heads in shame! Isn't there one cowboy who is wise enough to decide on these issues? ⁶ I guess not! One of God's cowboys are squabbling with another of God's cowboys right out in the open—right in front of unbelievers. That makes our outfit look good doesn't it?

⁷ But the fact y'all are even squabblin' means you've failed. It'd be better to be wronged than to fail. Shoot, it'd be better to be cheated than fail on purpose. ⁸ Instead, y'all are out there cheating and stealing among yourselves and others.

⁹ Are y'all so dense that you haven't figured out that cowboys who act like that won't get through the narrow gate when their ride is done? You've got your hats pulled down over your eyes if you think perverts, idol worshipers, adulterers, gigolos, gays, ¹⁰ thieves, money lusters, drunks, bullies, or cheats will get through the narrow gate onto God's outfit. ¹¹ I know some of you used to do those things, but you sit in a new saddle now. It's been oiled and washed clean and so have you. Y'all are holy now. You've been made right with God by asking to ride for Jesus Christ and be guided by the Holy Ghost.

Shucking Sexual Sin

¹² I know some of you are already saying, "But I am set free and can do anything I want." Yeah, you can. But just because you can doesn't mean you should. You are free and can do anything you want, but don't become a slave once again to sin. ¹³ I know some of you are thinking, "Food was made for the stomach and the stomach was made for food." But just because this is true doesn't mean you should stuff yourselves like gluttons or use your body for sexual things God never intended. Don't use your bodies for your own pleasure, but for the will of God. He gave you your body so give your body to him. ¹⁴ God raised Jesus's body from the grave and he will do the same for you if you ride for him the way Jesus did.

¹⁵ Don't you realize your body is part of the body of Christ? If Jesus wouldn't join his body to a harlot then you shouldn't either. ¹⁶ Did you not know that when you sleep with a prostitute, you become part of her and she becomes part of you. The Good Book says, "Two will be joined together forever." ¹⁷ But the one who rides with the Lord is one with him.

¹⁸ Don't just avoid sexual sin, run from it like your butt is on fire. This kind of sin affects you much differently than the others. It is a sin against your own body and your body should belong to the Lord. ¹⁹ Don't you know your body is the saddlebag for the Holy Ghost? You wouldn't throw God's great gift in the dirt and stomp on it, so don't do it to yourself either. ²⁰ God paid too much for you to use your body like trash. You honor or dishonor him with every action.