"Bronc"

They leaned against the fence rails,

And watched the outlaw buck,

One said to the other,

You’re gonna need some luck,

If you think you can gentle him,

You’re liable to get hurt,

Fling you high into the air,

And hard down in the dirt.

The cowboy shook his head and smiled,

He was never one to boast,

But quietly said I’ll guess we’ll see,

To his friend who doubted most.

Next early morning round pen work,

Circles walk and trot and lope,

The only peace the horse could find,

Was when slack came in the rope.

And gradually and slowly,

A bond of trust was made,

The fear was slowly conquered,

Replaced by confidence displayed.

First the blanket, then the saddle,

And finally the ride,

The horse a willing partner,

With no need to run and hide.

He maybe pitched a little,

But quickly then calmed down,

Yielding to the pressure,

As the cowboy rode him round.

In no time he’s led outside,

Prowling cattle pastures long,

Crossing creeks and climbing mountains,

And showing that he’s strong.

Miles later cowboy’s friend stops by,

And much to his surprise,

That outlaw’s made a working hand,

A wonder in his eyes.

Didn’t think that you could do it,

But I’ll admit I see you can,

And though he was a handful,

I’m proud he wears your brand.

And this reminds me of so many,

Who were outlaws at the first,

But the Lord could see potential,

And then their hunger and their thirst.

And the promise is quite certain,

With righteousness they’re filled,

From something wild and terrified,

To all the Lord has willed.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6, NKJV)

Here’s a beautiful promise! If one hungers and thirsts for righteousness the Lord will satisfy them. But what if the person is wild and rebellious? What then? Can one be living in disobedience to God and still hunger for something better? Absolutely! They may not know or acknowledge that the Lord is what they’re thirsty for, but it’s there nonetheless. Take the apostle Paul as a prime example. He went from being a terrorist to a devout Jesus follower in a relatively short period of time. The Lord knows how to gentle us.

Lord, fill us with Your righteousness, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.