Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV)
As comfortable as this one or that may seem, we cannot say that any grip will do when it comes to your golf swing. A bad grip leads to a compensating swing, and a compensating swing—especially under pressure—leads to unwanted consequences.
If you’re going to be a good golfer, even simply recreationally, you’ll want to be sure your fundamentals are solid and consistent. As we saw last week, good alignment is critical, and so is a proper grip. If you’re not sure you have these in place, it might be time for a tune-up from your local professional.
But what if your faith is young or has suffered compromise? Where do you go then? Well, again you want to be sure you have a good grip, which this time means a correct handle on the word of truth.
When you were a new believer, you likely heard more than a few encouragements to “get into the Word”—that is, to read your Bible. And even as you mature through the years, friends who help you maintain accountability probably start with this question: Are you spending time in the Word?
Spending time in the Word, reading it in big gulps and small, thoughtful doses, is indeed a foundational practice. To know God well, you will want to know the Word well. After all, it is his Word—or maybe more accurately, his words. The Scriptures contain the inspired words of God (“breathed out by him,” as it is rendered in the Greek). These words have great worth for us as disciples, for teaching, rebuke, correction, and training us in righteousness. Through them we are equipped for the work God gives us (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
What this all means, however, is that reading the Bible is only the beginning. We must approach the Word with the intention of following it and teaching it to others. This means we must be diligent, so that our dividing of the Word is right. No, every reader of the Bible is not a theologian, any more than every golfer is a tour professional. But we all aspire to improve at golf, and we can all aspire to lay hold of the Word of God in a way that makes us effective wielders of this sword of the Spirit in the arena where we live.
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Jeff Hopper
March 17, 2017
Copyright 2017 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES:
Golf & Life Fundamentals 1: Alignment
Golf & Life Fundamentals 3: Posture
Golf & Life Fundamentals 4: Mechanics
Golf & Life Fundamentals 5: Target Focus
Golf & Life Fundamentals 6: Positivity
Golf & Life Fundamentals 7: Finishing