“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28, ESV)
Recently three Jesus and golf brothers from San Jose, California, made their way over to Phoenix for some fellowship and some golf. One of those men, John, had visited me back in January and on that trip we were fortunate to get to play at Scottsdale National Golf Club, a wonderful piece of property that has two 18-hole courses and the coolest par-3 course I’ve ever seen.
John really wanted to bring his friends (and mine) Tony and Dave over to play there, and Tony having a “significant” birthday was all the excuse John needed. So arrangements were made, and a few weeks later they made the trip. They arrived at Mesa Country Club (my home course) on Friday, we played golf, went to dinner, and they headed to Scottsdale to prepare for golf at National the next two days.
Saturday evening I got an email from the host member at Scottsdale National asking me if I could join them on Sunday morning, and I replied that since my wife and I had just been to church that I’d love to. We teed off at 10 a.m. as a fivesome.
Scottsdale National requires a caddie with each group, and our host always likes to have Joel along. They’ve become friends, and I’ve gotten to know him a little myself. The California boys all got to know him on Saturday, and he was in the group again on Sunday.
Joel immediately responded, “That’s what I’m here for.” Everyone laughed, and I thought of Jesus.On the twelfth green, Tony putted from 20 yards off the green up a steep slope and covered 40 more feet of distance on the green. It was magnificent, and it left him just a little under five feet for a great par save. Joel helped him read the putt, as he had for all of us all day. Tony missed.
With his delightful personality on full display, Tony smiled as he said, “I’m blaming Joel for that one!” And Joel immediately responded, “That’s what I’m here for.” Everyone laughed, and I thought of Jesus.
Sometimes it’s a challenge for us to hold a verse like the one above with our heart. Our head gets it, of course. But when I heard Joel graciously and easily and knowingly absorbing all of the blame for a failed putt, I understood Jesus a little better than I had the moment before.
Jesus knew why he was here, and Joel knew why he was there. I wish I’d grabbed Joel, who is not a Jesus follower, and explained the parallel in depth. Instead I simply said to all, “That sounded just like Jesus.”
I hope that, at least sometimes, I remind people of Jesus, too. After all, that’s what I’m here for.
—
Lewis Greer
June 17, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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