Saddled Up by the Spirit
Scripture: Acts 13:1-3 (NASB95)
"Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."
Cowboy Wisdom
Out on the ranch, there's a difference between a hand who just showed up looking for work and one the boss personally selected for an important drive. The best ranchers know their crew—they can spot who's got the grit, the heart, and the skills needed for the trail ahead. They don't just grab anybody off the street when there's cattle to move through dangerous territory. They choose men they can trust, men they've watched and tested.
That's exactly how God operates. When the Holy Spirit called out Barnabas and Saul, it wasn't random. These weren't just warm bodies filling a slot—they were handpicked by the Almighty Himself for the first great missionary journey. The church leaders were fasting and praying, seeking God's direction with the kind of urgency a trail boss shows before a thousand-mile cattle drive. And when God spoke, they listened.
Here's the thing about being chosen by God: He never calls the equipped, He equips the called. You might feel like you're nothing but a greenhorn, fresh off the farm with no experience. But if God's put His brand on you for a task, He's going to give you everything you need to complete it. The question isn't whether you're qualified by the world's standards—it's whether you're willing to answer when the Boss calls your name.
Questions for Reflection
Have you experienced a clear calling from God for a specific task or ministry? How did you know it was Him?
What "qualifications" do you think you lack that might be keeping you from answering God's call?
Are you currently seeking God's direction through prayer and fasting, or are you just drifting along?
Consider taking our Willis Cowboy Fellowship Interest Suvey to see which team God might be calling you to.
Prayer Focus
Ask God to reveal any areas where He's calling you to serve. Pray for the courage to say yes even when you feel unqualified, trusting that He equips those He calls.
