Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12:28, NASB)
My good friend, David Cook, the author of Seven Days in Utopia: Golf’s Sacred Journey, recently spoke to an auditorium full of men at our church. He gave his testimony and remarked that he continues to be in awe of the mighty God who has blessed him with so many stories of God’s grace. His point is well taken. Why aren’t we just in stupendous amazement each day as we see miracles of salvation and new beginnings? It is all around us if we would just look and listen. Notice the next sunset or sunrise. Ken Gire once said, “We live in a divine art gallery and most of the time we are content to just stare at the carpet.”
God not only chose us, but he rewards us with an inheritance that is out of this world.I have been blessed to be with Dr. Cook on numerous occasions and have witnessed up close many of these miracles. As I look back on these occasions, I am in awe. We have seen salvation by God’s grace actually happen and new beginnings unfold in the lives of men. It happened in a beanfield in Utopia, Texas, to a retired admiral, on a mountainside in Colorado to a workaholic dad, and David was partially responsible for a new beginning in my life in a boardroom in San Antonio. God’s grace coming down and changing lives forever. All of the miracles and the circuitous routes taken have resulted in bringing us to the perfect moment in time. And I never take this for granted.
Should we be in amazed or just decide that these are all random acts and coincidence? I don’t see salvation from God take place every day, but by God’s grace, I was privileged to see it on several occasions with Dr. Cook. Even without spontaneous and miraculous events like the ones mentioned above, how about the awe we should have in our own salvation story? God not only chose us, but he rewards us with an inheritance that is out of this world. He erases our sin, calls us his own, and provides a life after death. That alone should inspire us to fall on our knees in worship.
The morning after that message at my church, Dr. Cook and I attended a Links Fellowship at a local country club. This Fellowship considers a few verses each meeting and answer three questions: 1) If this were a movie, what would the title be? 2) What is the key verse? 3) What is the application for our life? As God would have it, we discussed Acts 2:42-47. Here is what verse 43 says: “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” The next few verses explain that the early church held all their possessions in common, and they began to sell their property and share with those in need. They ate together and were all of common mind and heart.
I then remembered my good friend and Links Player with whom I have eaten breakfast once a week for many years. He will soon go Home to be with Jesus. His wife was very concerned about funeral expenses, as they had a tight budget. We let the need be known and our generous Links Players contributed three times more than what was needed. And we had the privilege to give this gift while he was still living.
Thanks be to the God of whom we should all be in awe! I am, because he allows me to see these miracles.
(For more information on David Cook, visit linksofutopia.com.)
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Randy Wolff
November 7, 2016
Copyright 2016 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.