God’s Pick of the Herd
SCRIPTURE
Acts 16:1–2 (NASB95)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.
Acts 16:3 (NASB95)
Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:5 (NASB95)
So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
COWBOY WISDOM
A good rancher doesn’t just hire anybody who shows up at the gate. He watches for someone who’s got a reputation worth keeping—someone the other hands speak well of, someone whose word is their bond and whose work ethic shows it. That’s exactly what Paul was looking for when he arrived in Lystra and laid eyes on young Timothy. The brethren across two towns spoke highly of him, and that kind of reputation doesn’t come cheap.
They say the easiest thing to get is a bad reputation, and the hardest thing is to get rid of one. It’s like that old shopping mall that took hundreds of men and years to build, but a demolition crew tore it down in no time flat. Timothy had carefully built his reputation and guarded it like a cowboy guards a newborn foal in a cold snap. He hadn’t let it get tarnished, and because of that, his testimony for the Lord was solid as oak.
But Timothy didn’t just have a good name—he had a willing spirit. When Paul asked him to be circumcised to remove any stumbling block for Jewish converts, Timothy didn’t dig in his heels. He surrendered to the greater mission. Now that’s what it means to ride for the brand. You don’t put your personal preferences above the mission. A cowboy who loves the cattle drive more than his own comfort is the one you want riding alongside you on a long trip.
And the results? The churches were strengthened and grew in number daily. Everything rises and falls on leadership, and when God’s pick steps into the saddle with a willing heart, the whole outfit benefits. Ask yourself today: Am I building a reputation worth having? Am I willing to sacrifice personal comfort to remove any obstacle between others and the saving grace of Jesus Christ?
“A good name is worth more than silver—guard it like a cowboy guards water in a dry desert.”
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
What would the people who know you best say about your reputation? Would they say you are “well spoken of”?
Is there something in your life that might be a stumbling block keeping others from coming to Christ? What would it take to lay that down?
How can you be more intentional about building your reputation as a follower of Jesus in your home, workplace, or community?
Timothy’s willing spirit led to churches growing daily. How does your willingness (or resistance) affect those around you?
PRAYER FOCUS
Lord, I want to be someone You can pick for the work You’ve called me to. Help me build a reputation that honors You—not for my own glory, but so my testimony remains unhindered. Give me a willing spirit like Timothy’s, ready to sacrifice my preferences for the sake of the Gospel. Use my life to strengthen those around me. May I ride fully for Your brand today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
