Study Desk

But the people didn't notice because their hearts were hard like stone. Even today when the old code of condemnation is read, it covers their minds where they cannot see or understand the truth. This covering can only be removed by believing in Jesus, who brought the new code of confirmation with him.

But when someone changes and believes in the Lord and decides once and for all to ride for him, that covering is stripped away.

Our faces don't hide behind wild rags to keep people from seeing the glory of God. We show the Lord's glory, not in our faces, but in our hearts and in our lives that are being changed to be like his. As we change more and more, there is more and more glory that belongs only to the Lord—who is the Spirit.

But we have given up on our old shameful deeds and underhanded way of living. We don't try to trick people or distort the word of God. We explain the truth in a way you can understand it, and those who are honest know it.

We can tell you stories about ourselves, but it's only to point you toward God. We don't preach about ourselves. We preach that Jesus is the boss and we are his cowboys who ride for his brand.

It's true! This light shines in our hearts, but this gift is like a treasure in an old worn out feed sack that could tear open at any moment. God did this on purpose to show it's his power that sustains us, not what we can accomplish.

We are surrounded by things that could kill us, but we ain't even been whipped yet. We may not know what we're doing, but we know better than to give up.

People are always out to get us, but God never leaves our side. We might get knocked down, but we always get up.

That's why we bear down and never give up. Our bodies are growing older and weaker, but our spirits are getting stronger and stronger.

Sure, we've got troubles, but they are preparing us for something much better to come.

So we don't even acknowledge the problems we have now, but we set our sights on things that can't be seen. The things we can see now are temporary and will soon be gone, but the things we can't see will be forever.

These tents we live in here groan, sigh, and complain, but we ain't trying to shuck 'em before God is through with us. We know the times coming and we can't wait to put on our new duds.

We ain't bragging about ourselves, but we do hope you are glad we ride with you. We aren't like those other cowboys who are all hat and no cattle. We'd rather have a good heart than a fancy ministry.

If you thought we were genuinely crazy, it is for the glory of God. But if you thought we were sane, it was for you.

But neither really matters. It's Jesus who we follow every single day. We follow him because he died for us and we are willing to die for him.

It's because of this that we no longer judge people by their looks or their breeding. Shoot, there was a time not too long ago when we judged Jesus by human standards, too. But now we know he was one with God.

We speak nothing but the truth and depend a hundred percent on God's power instead of our own. When you live this way—like a cowboy should—you are prepared for any kind of attack.

We ride for the brand whether people are pattin' us on the back or spittin' in our face. We are nothing but honest, but folks call us crooked horse traders peddlin' lies.

We are shunned everywhere we go. They act like they don't know us, but they do. We ride the canyon edge of death every single day, but nonetheless, here we are. They've stomped a mud hole in us, but they ain't been able to kill us yet.

Our hearts are broken, yet we are filled with joy. We have nothing anyone has, but everything they want.