I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15, NIV)
Having hit the range only minutes before my tee time, my warmup did not instill confidence. With each rushed swing I left the sweet spot undisturbed. Not until the last few reps did I remember to slow it down and swing in rhythm. Voila! Stripe show.
It continued briefly on the course. I hit the first four fairways and greens and had 10-foot birdie looks on each. None dropped, but I was still even-par and enjoying a stress-free round.
You ever get on a roll like that with your faith? Get your morning reading in several days in a row, spend some quiet time with God, and actually “value others above yourself” (Philippians 2:3) for more than a few fleeting moments?
Not sure about you, but I have an uncanny ability to stop a spiritual hot streak by falling into the same trap Paul mentions in today’s verse.
Kind of like the aforementioned round.
Just when I start feeling good about myself, I’ll thoughtlessly say something hurtful or fall back into my selfish ways.A yanked tee ball on the fifth found the creek. Double.
Following a par on six, I told myself on the seventh tee, “Let’s not let one bad swing ruin a good round.”
Same club as at number five. Same result, different water. Double.
That’s a snapshot of my golf. Show great promise. Swell up with pride. Crash back down to earth.
I can paint a similar picture with my faith game. I read the Bible. I consume devotionals. I hit two churches several Sundays to get fed.
But just when I start feeling good about myself, I’ll thoughtlessly say something hurtful or fall back into my selfish ways.
As Paul went on to say later in Romans 7, “What a wretched man I am!”
To fight this tendency in me, I’m trying to shift my focus from knowing about Jesus to knowing Jesus.
How?
It’s one thing to read about him in the Bible and be able to quote the Great Commission, but I equate this to banging balls on the range for hours on end. It’s great for honing the swing, but the game is learned out on the course.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ll continue reading Scripture for the wisdom, but I’m now trying to spend more time with our Savior than talking about him. (I’m still learning how, but Wally Armstrong, friend of the Links Players ministry, has written a great book on the subject called Practicing the Presence of Jesus.)
Like a tour caddie can help keep his player’s round from disintegrating, I’m guessing time spent with Jesus will help me reduce the self-inflicted doubles in life.
Perhaps then, what I hate I’ll do less.
—
Drew Hamilton
February 19, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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