Study Desk

I did the groundwork with you. Apollos started you under saddle, but it was God who was doing the growin' inside ya.

Because of the grace of God, I have laid the foundations of a ranch like a top-notch cowman. Now others are working its pastures, but they must be very careful.

But there will come a day of judgment through fire. This fire will reveal who took pride in what they built.

But if their work falls apart, that cowboy will end up flat on his back. He will still be saved, but just barely . . . like a cowboy who survived being run over by a stampede.

But as for me, I don't give two shakes whether you like me or agree with what I do or say. I ain't gonna let you judge me. I won't even judge myself.

My conscience is clear. Now I ain't saying I'm perfect, but the One who will judge me is, and I trust him with my soul.

I've already said you have everything you need already. As a matter of fact, you have more access to God than you know what to do with. You're like a little kid with a champion cutting horse, but you've never straddled a saddle. But I wish you were already champions in your own rights. If you were, then we would be too.

Our dedication to the brand of Christ makes us look like fools, but y'all flounce around like you're better than others. Y'all ride with your chests puffed out like you're at a parade, but we are out there in the sun and rain, looking like misfits riding the grub line.

But don't think I'm trying to make you feel bad about yourselves. I'm warning you what real cowboying for the Lord is like.

I'm writing to you like a father would to his kids. Many will come and tell you what you did wrong, but I'm the only one who will take you under his wing and guide you.

But some of you have become full of yourselves. Like a bully at the playground, you think the teacher is gone,

but I'm right around the corner and coming soon if the Lord lets me. When I get there, we will see who the big dogs are and who the little yappers are.

God's outfit ain't about big talk, but a big walk. Big talkers rely on their power, but cowboys rely on God's power.

Y'all walk around proud like banty roosters, but you should be bawling your eyes out for letting this happen in your outfit. Some real men should take this fellow and send him down the road.

I may not be riding with you in person, but I'm still a part of your outfit and in the name of the Lord, I pass judgment on this no-account scoundrel.

It ain't my job to judge outsiders, but I can sure pass judgment on those who ride for God's outfit.

God will take care of the outsiders, but the Good Book says, "If you find an outlaw in your outfit, send him down the road to keep your camp clean."

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.

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.

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.