My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you… then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1, 5 NASB)
You may have noticed that several of our writers have also coached high school golf: Jeff Hopper, Larry Dublanko, and I have all experienced this pleasure. We enjoy the interaction with the students and passing along whatever golf information we can.
Just as important in teaching the players how to play the game is teaching them the Rules of Golf. It is imperative the players learn how to take relief from an immovable obstruction or a movable obstruction, or what their options are when they hit the ball in a creek. Unlike basketball, football, soccer, baseball and hockey, there are no referees alongside to make a ruling on the spot. We are sending the kids out for 18 holes of golf and hoping the competition is played fairly and by the rules. When there is a rules issue in high school golf, it is because the players involved do not understand the rules or that an individual is trying to take advantage of the situation. The best solution is for all the players to know the Rules of Golf.
The Scriptures, or Word of God, is not really a rulebook. It is foremost a revelation of who God is. But it also tells us how he would have us live. Whether we refer to these various line items as “commandments,” or “instructions,” or “words” (as is the literal translation in many places), we know that following what God has for us keeps us from sin and guards us from the consequences of our own stupidity. In this way, the Bible is much like the Rules of Golf. And we do well to know the Scriptures as well as we can.
As I watched from the next tee, the young man cleared out all of grass and weeds around his ball. It was impressive, almost like he had a Weed Eater!In a devotion in late May, Jeff asked this question: “How might you bank more knowledge of Scripture to help you address and defeat bad ideas around you?” Reading the Word, memorizing Scripture and being in a weekly small group all come to mind. Putting yourself in a place to hear the Word. Sundays at church, maybe one of those weekend conferences your church is putting on. Anything to be in the Word. Anything to defeat the bad ideas we receive every day on TV, the radio, or in a newspaper or online story.
You see, the effect of knowing God’s Word can only be positive. Scripture itself tells us so:
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
At one state golf tournament, a player hit his ball left on a par three and into tall weeds and grass. As I watched from the next tee, the young man cleared out all of grass and weeds around his ball. It was impressive, almost like he had a Weed Eater! At the right time, I asked the player and his fellow competitors if they were aware this was against the rules. Not a clue.
In life, the stakes are higher than a state golf tournament. First is assurance of eternal life in heaven. After that is a list of life’s experiences we need to be prepared for. A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5, NASB). In this way, God’s Word is not like the Rules of Golf; it’s way more important.
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Bill Euler
July 3, 2018
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.