Have you ever been lassoed?
I have and let me tell you it was not a fun ordeal. Even though the person intended it as a joke, it got out of hand. The rope burn around my neck lasted for weeks. This experience left me with a memory that brought about a spiritual revelation decades later.
When I first became a Christian, I was super excited to share Christ with others–and I still am. Where I look back now with a sad heart is how I felt I needed to “rope” someone around their spiritual neck and drag them 
up to my current spiritual understanding. I was young and immature in my understanding. I wish I could apologize to all those I left with rope burn.
So if you are reading this today–I’m sorry on behalf of myself and anyone else who has done this to you. They might have had the best of intentions but presented their care for you very poorly.
Thankfully, a wonderful Christ-filled couple willingly mentored my husband and me over the years. Through them, we realized that our initial way of doing things was not the way Jesus handled things. They held out their hand, walked with us, studied scripture with us, and by grace, patience, and love helped us along our spiritual journey.
Mentored instead of Roped
Instead of roping us around the neck and dragging us up to their level of spiritual understanding, they were patient with us, and allowed us time to grow and mature.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
It’s important to realize that we are all on our own personal walk with our Lord and Savior. He has patience and grace as each person is walking and growing in their faith. We need to do so as well. This definitely goes for those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior yet too! Yes, we want them to have the same hope we do. But trying to drag them into it will not make it happen.
If we feel we are ahead of a friend, we don’t need to rope them and drag them to our level. No! If we try that, then they miss the wonderful opportunity to grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Instead, we need to reach out our hand and encourage them along the journey. That way, when we stumble and fall, we also have a friend holding our hand and helping us along.
So, if the rope is still in your hand, will you agree to put down the rope and reach out your hand?
Have you ever roped someone or has someone roped you?
How did that affect your relationship with that person and the Lord?
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I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
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This is so beautifully written and oh so true, sometimes people are just not ready, they are not in that place and that’s OK or sometimes God has a completely different agenda for them and a different walk and cross to carry. Like Yeshua said to Peter, so what if he stays to my return?
I love the example of the rope burn and the lassoing, that must have been really painful and I know I have been guilty of such.
Thank you very much, Florence for your kind words. Yes, the lassoing was a bit painful. I’m thankful my eyes have been opened to Jesus’ way of leading and encouraging others.
May we allow the Lord to lead us in the leading. 🙂 resting in his prompts for all things…encouraging those in our influence to hear Him and not us. 🙂
Great post. 🙂
Yes, exactly, Brianna! “Lead us in the leading.” That is perfectly stated. Thanks for stopping by.
ah but it’s so beneficial to me all this “lassoing” 😀
I know, right!?! I mean dragging people around IS very effective….if you want to slowly choke someone to death that is. Thanks for your comment, Andi, it made me laugh!
I believe I’ve been on both sides of the rope. As a new Christian 5 years ago, I damaged some very important relationships by just being so impatient and even judgmental with them. Now that I am a little more mature, I know that had I took a more gentler approach it may have turned out better. I have also felt that some of my friends were not as understanding with me as they should have been in my early spiritual walk. They were ahead of me and expected me to be on my level, and it left a bad… Read more »
It’s easy to assume everyone is at “our level” and easy to forget we have yet to reach the “Jesus level of perfection.” We we try and impose our level to me it’s like assuming we’ve figured it out already. One of our mentors used to say, “This is my understanding today. Tomorrow I might study the Bible in a way that gives me greater understanding.” I LOVED THAT! Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by.
Like you, I’ve been guilty of this (at least if not in action, then in my thinking). 🙂 Over the last few years, the Lord has really opened up my view of Grace and what it means to bring someone to know Him. I’m thankful that His work in our lives never ceases! I’m stopping by from the CWB share thread. Happy to “meet” you! 🙂
Jen @ Being Confident of This
Happy to meet you too! Thanks for stopping by.
beautifully brought out how much patience and kindness we are to extend to another person … mentoring respects while ‘roping’ seems to be controlling and over-impulsive…
I have found it so important to meet people where they are – children, friends, non-believers. When they feel heard and seen for who they are in the moment, they feel safe and validated. They then don’t have to be on guard or apprehensive to ask questions or acknowledge their struggles. This is a great post! Thank you and God Bless!
I love this. “Mentored instead of roped.” I would love to drag a few people kicking and screaming to the cross of Christ and beat them with my Bible until they “get it”, but they never would, would they? We have to love them even when they don’t get it and pray that someday they will.
Wow! I have never looked at this as being “roped or lassoed.” So thank you for making this post come alive with such eye-catching analogies. I think that we have all fallen prey to this kind of behavior in some shape or fashion. Thank God as we become spiritually mature we see things differently.
Love this analogy with the lasso! I guess I’ve never thought about this before!
This is a perfect word picture. How can we expect people to give themselves to Jesus when we haven’t taken the time to introduce them to Him through our behavior?
So, very true! Fortunately I have had special ladies in my life that have held my hand and have been very patient with me in my walk with Christ. Thankful for their grace, love, and kindness.
I had never thought of this quite like this! Good analogy!