"Cowboy Man"

The cowboys of my childhood,

We’re a smokin,’ drinkin,’ lot,

Wild to chase the women,

At the honky tonks they fought.

And it was them I followed,

And wanted like to be,

But then there was my mama,

Who preached the truth to me,

‘Bout Jesus and church-going,

And against the devil’s drink,

And I didn’t want to go to hell,

So wasn’t sure just what to think.

On one side all was cowboy,

And the cowboy way and all,

On the other side was Jesus,

And those who heard His call.

It was one side or the other,

And I thought I had to choose,

No way I could’ve known it then,

That I did not have to lose,

My love for life a-horseback,

Or the country cowboy way,

I could and still love Jesus,

And on the Lord’s side stay.

I could cowboy up for Jesus,

Say yes to all He said,

And still be a full-out puncher,

With His good news to spread.

And, yes, it took a minute,

Before I saw it real,

But there’s no doubt about it,

He knows just how we feel.

So go on out a-horseback gone,

And never doubt God’s plan,

You can live for Christ full out,

And be a cowboy man.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NAS)

God want to give us new lives. But this does not mean every single thing about our lives changes. We still have the same race, gender, personality type, and basic predispositions toward the kind of life we desire. The difference is that we have surrendered control to Jesus and He uses every part of our identity to serve and glorify Him. God doesn’t necessarily demand that you drop it, just that He is allowed to harness it for His glory. By dying to our selfish control, He is free to use or gifts and talents to advance His Kingdom cause. God delivers us from the worst but harnesses everything else as part of our new spiritual identity.

Lord, help us fully cooperate with You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.