Roping Religion: Slow down and forgive

Many of the ideas and scriptures for this article are from the devotional “God Wants You To Win!” by world champion calf roper Jeff Copenhaver.

As we conclude this series I want to summarize some of the remaining stories from Jeff and encourage each of you to continue to press on in your relationship with the Lord.

Jeff once asked a golfer what the best golf tip he had ever received and the golfer responded, “Slow everything way down.” Then Jeff asked the man what the best life tip he had ever received and the golfer again responded, “Slow everything way down.” When I was much younger and raising a young family, I was working constantly and did not take time to enjoy life. I wasn’t around home much as I left for work before my kids were awake and got home after they had eaten their supper. If I could do life over I would have tried to enjoy raising my kids more and invested more time listening to my wife and children rather than being so obsessed with providing for them. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The good news is that, since we are still alive, we can enjoy our lives while serving God and others before Jesus returns or He calls us home.

Another major lesson that Jeff shared was on forgiveness. When he was a new believer he asked the Holy Spirit to show him anyone that he needed to forgive or anything that he needed to ask forgiveness for. Right away a certain person came to his mind who had caused much pain and hurt in his life. Jeff released forgiveness over and over. He forgave and wept and when he was through he was a different person. I have shared how I needed to forgive people who attended church and sure did not act like mature believers. The Lord disciplined me greatly and eventually I forgave these people and instantly received a physical healing. Forgiveness is definitely a key to freedom. Jesus says in Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

The time to forgive is today. If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will repay. We need to pray for our enemies and we need to forgive.

We need to remember that we all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Many of us are living lives that our grandparents perhaps could not even imagine. God makes all things beautiful in His time. If we want to position ourselves to be blessed and to one day hear God say, “Well done” then we should work wholeheartedly as if we are working for God and recognize that all good gifts come from God and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We are hopefully encouraging our children and grandchildren to faithfully serve God with their short time on this earth. When we go through disappointments we ought to realize that nothing is impossible with God. We may have to use all of our faith to obtain some victories and work as if it all depends on us while still trusting God for His best to come to pass in our lives. We may have to pray about everything and learn how to seek first His kingdom so that the Lord will provide everything we need to accomplish our assignments on this earth. We need to believe that promotion comes from the Lord and that He knows and determines the exact places where man shall live.

May we be those who seek the kingdom of God, do good, and finish well. May the Lord give us much wisdom and favor. May God bless you big.

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This is the last in a 30-column series of Roping Religion columns by Kevin Barsotti, pastor of Ark Church in Havre.