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A Final Word

¹ This will be my third time coming to see y'all. Don't forget, if someone has a complaint about someone else, there's got to be at least two or three other cowboys who can testify to the truth of it. ² When I was there before, I warned those who were still sinning. I may not be there yet, but let me offer another warning to stop before I arrive. If it is still happening when I get there, they will be dealt with accordingly. ³ If you need proof that Jesus speaks through me, you'll get it when he deals with you when I arrive. You'll sure enough see his power then. ⁴ He might have been nailed to a cross while he was weak, but now he rides with the full power of God. We are not different. We may be weak now, but when it comes to dealing with y'all, we will have God's full power at our disposal.

⁵ So I suggest you test yourselves to see if your faith is true. If you don't realize Jesus lives in you now then you have failed the test. ⁶ While you reflect on your own lives, notice that we have not failed the test. Jesus does live in us and our actions prove it.

⁷ We pray that y'all will not refuse correction. I hope we have no need to exercise the authority we've been given when we get there. Please, do the right thing and fix what needs fixing so we don't have to when we arrive. I don't even care if it looks like we failed. If it gets fixed, that's all that matters. ⁸ We can't go against what is true. We stick to the truth, that's all. ⁹ We'll gladly appear weak if it makes y'all strong. Your growth is all we care about.

¹⁰ Again, I'm writing all of this before I get there so y'all will have time to fix things. I don't want to get there and immediately start punishing people. I have the authority, but I want to use it to make you better cowboys, not tear you down. But the choice is yours, not mine.

¹¹ Now, listen cowboys and cowgirls, I want y'all to be joyful. I want you to become the best cowboys and cowgirls you can be. Encourage each other and don't let each other down. Get along with each other. Then God will send his peace and love to ride with you.

¹² Greet each other with a hearty handshake or a kiss.

¹³ All of the cowboys here send their best to y'all.

¹⁴ May the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the togetherness of the Holy Spirit ride with you down every trail.