Roping Religion: Always run your best race

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.

After the famous hall of faith Chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews comes Chapter 12:1 which states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We all stand on the shoulders of others. Recently I shared with one of my elders that I would not have survived as a pastor unless he and another elder had been there to encourage and support me a quarter of a century ago.

Many of us forget that we are running a marathon. Some Christians sprint from this to that but we should be those who run with perseverance. We don’t quit. The old saying “Tough times don’t last but tough people do” reminds us not to falter in times of adversity.

Prior to telling us to run with perseverance, the verse instructs us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. I remember competing in a long distance race as a young teenager. The day was cold and I wore sweat pants to race in. I did great the first lap but I struggled to finish the race because of the hindrance of the sweat pants that heated me up and slowed me down. Perhaps there is something in your life that is keeping you from running the race to your best capability.

Some believers still have a hard time forgiving either themselves or others. Many Christians choose to make money their master rather than God. Some folks choose not to work or avoid the call of God in their lives because of fear. Others refuse to break out of generational sin or religious tradition that is keeping them from being free and whole in Christ Jesus. These are just a few examples of sin that we may struggle with during our brief time on this earth.

Perhaps right now the Holy Spirit is revealing to you a sin in your life that is hindering you from running your best race. Rather than run from your problem I encourage you to run to your problem and face your fears. You may need some help confronting issues in your past. God is our helper and our sustainer. He disciplines us because He loves us. When I participated in basketball years ago, if the coach wasn’t yelling at you he had given up on you. God’s discipline might not seem pleasant at the time, but if we receive His correction and instruction, we will find that we become less hindered and entangled in sin and more free to be about our Master’s business.

It is a good thing that God doesn’t wait until we are perfect to use us to capture and win souls for Him. God’s power shows up best in weak people. We confess our sin and receive His forgiveness. Then we ask God what He would have us to do in order to be the church and expand His kingdom.

It seems that God uses the gifts and talents He has placed within us in a way that will bring Him the most glory. Therefore whatever we find to do we should work at it as working for the Lord. Perhaps you have some trouble sleeping at night. A good strategy would be to use that quiet time to pray. You can pray for the salvation of friends, relatives and neighbors. You can pray for the peace of Jerusalem. You can pray for our city and the surrounding towns. You can pray for a revival in the land. You can pray for the right amount of moisture at the right time. There are many things to pray about.

I like to ask the Lord for favor. I ask for favor for my church, the church of Havre, the city of Havre, and the parachurch ministries including Your Network of Praise, Celebrate Recovery, the food bank, the soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, the Great Falls Rescue Mission, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Hi-Line Pregnancy Resource Center, Pioneer Bible Translators, and the Gideons. I also ask for favor for those who work in agriculture, those in education, those who work for the hospital and nursing homes, the railroad, business owners, friends, family members and the list goes on.

Each of us may have specific areas that God has called us to pray for and to support. Pray about what you are concerned about and believe for the salvation of those whom you would be willing to disciple. I encourage you to run your race so that you finish well.

May God bless you big.

——

This is the ninth in a series of columns by Kevin Barsotti, pastor of Ark Church in Havre.