I recently watched an old
western on TV where Sam Elliot’s character talked about riding for the brand. In
essence the brand was a ranch’s trademark and riding for the brand meant you
signed on to the mission — loyalty, dedication, duty, etc. It is becoming more
and more obvious that people in the media, politicians, civil servants
and yes, even people of faith, are trying to become their own brand. Sometimes
people of faith start writing and believing their own press and forget the brand
they ride for is not their own, but that of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “You were
bought at a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Cor 7:23 NIV).
2 comments:
Gail;
-----Thank you for pointing out that great analogy in a truly good movie.
-----I saw the movie, too. I was a little disgruntled that Sam Elliot’s character indeed got a bit tied up in riding for his boss’s brand. It was blatantly obvious that the situation completely lacking what he had in abundance to give was at the widow’s place. If he was riding for the Lord’s brand, he would have been there where his help was more needed.
-----Yet, he did ride for the Lord’s brand. He chose the path of doing what was right. You could tell that by the things he said and did. A path is made of a thousand footsteps, and in choosing it, you choose all those thousands of steps with it. But in stepping along that path, the only relevant step at the moment is the next step to be taken. That it is in alignment with the path is the only option given for your choice. That it does not fall to the left where there’s a piercing, poison smeared spike is a choice for truth. That it does not fall to the right where there’s an ankle twisting hole is another choice for the truth. That it does not fall in the middle where a toe-stubbing root stretches across the path is yet another choice for truth. So, that the step strides just a few inches further, safely across the root and between the spike and hole, is the choice truth picks. And that’s where the step is directed by the Lord for whom you chose the path.
-----The Lord directs our steps though we choose the paths. The path Mr. Elliot’s character chose had both the loyalty to his boss in finishing that responsibility and the loyalty of bringing love, hard work, and spiritual direction to a needful widow’s aid. He truly rode for the Lord’s brand in both choosing right and allowing his steps to be directed. I just needed to see enough of his path to realize it.
-----”A man’s mind plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Gail;
-----Thank you for pointing out that great analogy in a truly good movie.
-----I saw the movie, too. I was a little disgruntled that Sam Elliot’s character indeed got a bit tied up in riding for his boss’s brand. It was blatantly obvious that the situation completely lacking what he had in abundance to give was at the widow’s place. If he was riding for the Lord’s brand, he would have been there where his help was more needed.
-----Yet, he did ride for the Lord’s brand. He chose the path of doing what was right. You could tell that by the things he said and did. A path is made of a thousand footsteps, and in choosing it, you choose all those thousands of steps with it. But in stepping along that path, the only relevant step at the moment is the next step to be taken. That it is in alignment with the path is the only option given for your choice. That it does not fall to the left where there’s a piercing, poison smeared spike is a choice for truth. That it does not fall to the right where there’s an ankle twisting hole is another choice for the truth. That it does not fall in the middle where a toe-stubbing root stretches across the path is yet another choice for truth. So, that the step strides just a few inches further, safely across the root and between the spike and hole, is the choice truth picks. And that’s where the step is directed by the Lord, The Truth, for whom you chose the path.
-----The Lord directs our steps though we choose the paths. The path Mr. Elliot’s character chose had both the loyalty to his boss in finishing that responsibility and the loyalty of bringing love, hard work, and spiritual direction to a needful widow’s aid. He truly rode for the Lord’s brand in both choosing right and allowing his steps to be directed. I just needed to see enough of his path to realize it.
-----”A man’s mind plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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