Talk About the Trail - Sharing What God Has Done
Today’s Scripture - Acts 15:3
“Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.”
Cowboy Wisdom
Cowboys don’t come back from a cattle drive and keep quiet about it. No sir. They gather around the campfire, pour themselves a cup of black coffee, and let the stories fly — every river they forded, every storm they rode through, every ornery steer that tried to bolt into the brush. They talk about the close calls, the long nights, and that moment they finally crested the last ridge and saw the home pasture spread out below them. A cowboy who’s been through something real doesn’t sit in the corner and keep it to himself. He pulls up a log and lets it rip.
Paul and Barnabas were that kind of trail hand. As they traveled toward Jerusalem, they didn’t walk in silence. At every stop — Phoenicia, Samaria, everywhere in between — they told anyone who’d listen about what God was doing among the Gentiles. They didn’t save it for the big meeting. They didn’t wait until someone asked. They were so full of what they’d seen God do that it just spilled out of them, and it brought great joy to everyone who heard it.
Folks are going to talk about what thrills them — whether it’s sports, politics, money, food, or grandchildren. As the old saying goes, no cowboy was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling a picture of their grand babies out of their wallet. When a church gets excited about the Lord, and the people begin to talk about God wherever they go, that church will grow. Joy is contagious. When you talk about what God’s done with real fire in your belly, people catch that fire.
So don’t keep your trail stories to yourself, partner. The world is full of folks sitting around cold campfires who need to hear what God has done. Your story might just be the spark that lights theirs.
“A cowboy who’s seen something amazing on the trail doesn’t keep it to himself. He rides into camp and tells everybody.”
Questions for Reflection
When was the last time you told someone — outside of church — about what God has done in your life? What held you back, or what compelled you to share?
Paul and Barnabas brought “great joy” wherever they went. Does your testimony bring joy to others? How can you share your story with more enthusiasm?
What is one thing God has done for you recently that you could share with someone this week?
Prayer Focus
Lord, fill me with such joy about what You’ve done that I can’t help but tell others. Give me boldness to share my story wherever I go — at work, at the store, around the dinner table. Let my excitement about You be contagious, and let my words bring great joy to everyone who hears them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
