"Jose'"

They were nothing if not humble,

Held hopes controlled and low,

Never felt entitled,

And wanted just to show,

How glad they were to be here,

To work and to be free,

From far south of the border,

And cowboy clear to see.

And no, not an illegal,

But one who feared the law,

And found the legal pathway,

For years they planned and saw,

Themselves  in this great country,

They worked and prayed at last,

Citizens they came to be,

Though many years had passed.

They moved into our ranch house,

To take care of Dad’s cows,

Knew horses, how to use ‘em,

No need to show them how.

Through many generations,

The family made their place,

God-fearing, friendly people,

So full of quiet grace.

And if you really want to cowboy,

Go learn it from Jose’,

And there is no one better,

To teach you everyday.

The old ways of vaqueros,

The bridle horse, their mount,

The hundred foot reata,

The blessings hard to count.

So welcome those God sends you,

No matter where they’ve been,

And don’t be too concerned with,

The shade of darker skin.

We’re far more like each other,

Than some would e’er admit,

And God unites as brothers,

With love that will not quit.

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus…” (Galatians 3:28, NLT)

Of course we have racial, economic, and gender differences. So what could Paul have meant by this statement? Paul was emphasizing to the church in Galatia that their new identity in Jesus Christ transcends and supersedes everything else that defined them. It doesn’t mean you stop being male if you surrender your life to Jesus. It simply means your maleness is not the most important part of who you are any more. It’s the fact that your maleness has been surrendered to Him, and does not compete with what God wants you to be.. This is true of everything that identifies us as human beings. Jesus becomes Lord of all of it, and breaks down the barriers that divide us. Real unity occurs, not when we put aside differences but rather when we give them all to Jesus. He empowers us to love each other.

Lord, unite us with Your love, in Jesus’ name.

Lord,

Art by Keith Batcheller, used by permission. Thanks, Keith, and God bless you.