Study Desk

"Dad, I want all those who ride for me to be where I am. Only when they are with me will they be able to see the glory you gave me. Only then can they see that you have loved me since before the world was made.

Jesus looked at the traitor Judas and said, "I AM he." They all drew back and fell down at the power of his words.

Jesus said, "I already told you that I AM he. I've asked you twice who you are looking for. You are looking for one man. Let the rest of these cowboys go."

Jesus then said, "Don't hold on to me, for I haven't yet gone to my Father. Go tell my cowboys, 'I am going to our Father, and to our God.'"

'I am the God of all your daddies. I am the God of Abe, Isaac, and Jake.' Moses was shakin' like a newborn calf in a snowstorm and didn't even dare look.

It was God who did the givin', not me. And if God is givin' outsiders the same thing he gave insiders, then who am I to question that?"

When John's gathering was just about finished he said, 'Who do y'all think I am? It ain't me who will save you from the killer-buyer. There's another cowboy coming who I ain't fit to pull the boots off of after a long day's ride.'

'All y'all who made fun of me, the true God, better look out because you're being loaded on the kill truck. I am doing things that are amazing, and most people wouldn't even believe it if someone told them it was happening.'"

She was baptized along with her whole household. Then she insisted we stay at her ranchito. She said, "If you believe I am a believer like y'all, then you must be my guests." This little lady wouldn't take no for an answer.

"I am, too," the commander said. "My citizenship cost me everything I had. How much did it cost you?"Paul said, "Nothing. I was born a Roman citizen."

Paul saw that some of the high council were of the Sadducee clan and other were Pharisees. He used this to his advantage and said, "Y'all know me. I am a Pharisee just like all my granddaddies were. I'm not standing here today for any other reason than I believe we will be raised from the dead."

Paul continued, "But I stand here today and tell you plainly that I am a cowboy riding for the Way. They call it a cult, but it is the furthest thing from it. I worship the same God they do and believe everything in the Code and what the prophets said.

But the question is this, what am I supposed to tell the emperor? What charge am I supposed to bring that will be both the truth and one that won't make me look like an idiot for sending him all the way to Rome? So I let you hear his story, King Agrippa. Maybe after you hear it, you can tell me how to proceed.

"King Agrippa, I'm glad I am still alive to tell you my story and defend my good name against these baseless accusations.

I am no stranger to anyone. They all know I followed the Code to a T. I am a Pharisee through and through.

And I am standing here today for one simple fact, I believe God will keep his promise he made to our ancestors.

It's why all of us worship God day and night. We all have the same hope in God. And this hope is why I am on trial. Nothing else.

I am not ashamed of the good news. I wear its brand upon my heart with pride. It's the power of God by which all those who ride for God are saved—first the Jews, and then the rest of them.

Am I saying something good and holy caused death to come upon me? Absolutely not! That was sin working in me, not God's goodness. The Code merely revealed what was really ruling my life.

If I do something I don't want to do, this means I am not the one who does it. It's the sin that lives within me.