Read the Bible

Gettin' the Ranch Ready

¹ "Don't let this get you down. Trust God and trust me. ² My Father's outfit has many ranches. If that wasn't the case, would I have told you I'm going to prepare one for you? ³ If I go to get your ranch ready, I'll come back and get you when the time is right. Then you'll be with me forever. ⁴ Y'all know the trail that leads where I'm headed."

⁵ Tom said, "Boss, we ain't sure where you're going. So how can we know which trail to take?"

⁶ Jesus said, "I am the Trail, the Truth, and the Life. No one gets to God without going through me. ⁷ If you know me, you know my Dad. Not only that, but if you've seen me, you've seen him."

⁸ Phil said, "Just give us a glimpse of God. That's all we ask."

⁹ Jesus replied, "Don't you know me, Phil? Have you not ridden right beside me all this time? If you've seen me, you've seen God. Why in the world would you say, 'Give us a glimpse of God'? ¹⁰ Me and my Daddy are spitting images of each other, heart and soul. I don't pull these words out of my pocket. I only say what my Father tells me to. When you hear me, you're listenin' to him. ¹¹ Believe me when I tell you that I am in him and he is in me. At the very least believe in what you've seen. ¹² The truth is, the cowboy who rides for me will do the same miracles I have done. Better yet, they will do things greater than these because I'm going home to my Father. ¹³ If you need me to do something for you that will bring honor to my Father and me, ¹⁴ all you have to do is ask, and it'll be done.

Never Fail or Get Lost

¹⁵ "If you love me, you'll ride for me. If you truly ride for me, you'll do like I've taught you. ¹⁶ I'm going to talk to my Dad and he's going to send you someone to give you a hand. And this Hand will be with you forever. ¹⁷ This Hand is the Essence of Truth. This world cannot believe in him because it can neither see the Truth nor know him. You'll know him because he's gonna live right inside you.

¹⁸ "I ain't gonna run off and leave you like a dogie calf. I'll come get you. ¹⁹ Soon this old world won't be able to see me, but you will. If I'm alive, you're gonna be alive. ²⁰ When the time comes, there won't be any doubt that my Father and I are one. ²¹ The cowboy who loves me is the one who knows my ways and follows 'em. Those who love me will be loved by my Father. And I too will love that cowboy and show myself to him."

²² Judas (not the double-crosser) asked Jesus, "Why are you keeping this just between you and us? Why not show the world who you really are?"

²³ Jesus replied, "Because the world does not love me. You've gotta love me to be part of my crew. Anyone who is a part of my crew will do what I've told them to do. ²⁴ People who don't love me won't do what I've told them to do. This is what God says, not me.

²⁵ "I'm tellin' y'all this while I'm still here. ²⁶ However, the Pard, the Holy Spirit, will be sent by my Dad to help you with all of this. He'll show you the way and remind you of the things you need to do. He's going to back you up so that you never fail or get lost.

²⁷ "Everything is going to be alright. That's my gift to you. You have peace if you want it. This ain't the same kind of peace the world promises. The world's peace is an empty promise. Mine is a rock-solid guarantee. Listen real close, you do not have to be afraid. ²⁸ Remember, I'm heading out, but I will come back. If you love me, you'll be happy that I'm going to see my Dad. There is no one greater than him. ²⁹ I'm telling you this so when it happens, you'll understand. ³⁰ I'm not going to be saying much else. The king of this world has me in his sights and is about to pull the trigger. Despite what you see and hear, he has no control over me. ³¹ The job my Father gave me is about to start. I do it so that the world will know I love my Dad."

Jesus opened the door and said, "Saddle up, boys. Let's ride!"