Study Desk

Tell me why you Jews say you can only worship God in Jerusalem, but our ancestors have always worshiped here."

"Believe me, ma'am," Jesus replied, "the time is fast approaching when it won't matter where you worship God.

But the time is coming—indeed the clock has already struck noon—when real cowboys will ride for a real God. A real ride with God will come from your soul and be true, not from a building.

God is real, and those who ride for him must worship him for real also."

When they went to the well to talk to him, they begged him to stay for a while. He gave a two-day clinic at that little ranchito. He taught them who God was and how to ride for him.

Now this really kicked the hornet's nest, and the leaders tried to find a way to get rid of Jesus for good. Not only had Jesus broke the Law by working on the day of rest, when he called God his Father, he was saying that he was equal with God.

"Listen carefully to what I'm fixing to tell you. Those who believe what I am telling you right now, and believe that the God has sent me, that person will live forever in heaven. No sin will be held against a cowboy who believes in me. That cowboy has walked from the land of the dead and crossed the cattle guard to saddle up for eternal life.

But I do not judge unfairly. I only judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is fair, and they will get what they deserve. I only carry out the will of my Father who sent me, not my own.

My words and my miracles are the testimony of God that I AM who I say I AM. Y'all have never seen God face to voice or heard his voice with your own ears,

I see into your hearts and know that you do not ride for God.

I have been sent by my Father and you turn me away. I have come saying, 'Look at God' and you reject me. Others have come saying, 'Look at me' and you welcome them.

No wonder y'all can't believe. You're too busy standing in a big circle patting each other on the back. You seek glory from each other instead of from God.

"But it isn't me who will criticize you in front of God. Moses is going to do that, not me. Yes, the same Moses you put so much hope in.

Then Jesus lifted up the biscuits and thanked God for them and put them in a few different baskets to hand out to everyone. Everyone had as many biscuits as they could eat. He did the same thing with the jerky, and everyone got full.

Jesus said to them, "Y'all aren't here to ride for God. You're here because I filled your bellies and now you're hungry and wanting another free meal.

Quit chasing meaningless stuff like food and start longing for eternal life by riding for the Top Hand. For God has approved of him by giving him the key to the ranch."

Jesus said, "There is only one thing you have to do. Give your whole life to the Top Hand that God has sent ya."

The real bread of God gives life, not full bellies."

That's why the Scriptures say, 'God will personally teach them how to ride for the brand.' You see? God ain't going to send nobody to me who hasn't listened and done what he told them to do.

Not that any of you has seen God. Only the one sent from God has seen him.