“All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” (John 3:20-21, NLT)
No matter what time of year it is, it’s a rare week here in Southern California when we miss more than a day or two of golf because of bad weather. Still, the clubs pack in a lot of tournament play before winter comes and, just like on the PGA Tour, we have seen some exciting golf over the past month.
Now let me make a confession: Stiff competition can suck me right into the darkness. In tournament mode, I become another person as my competitive juices amp up. At times I feel evil in my heart towards my competition because I want to win so badly. Then I have to remind myself, Golf does not define me. But it’s so hard when you are in the heat of the battle!
God is doing his work in me, though. I had it going in my opening round, but I ended up with a triple bogey on the seventeenth hole that took me out of the competition. It hurt, but it was more important for me to hold my temper and remember to show God’s example to my fellow competitors. On this day, I was even able to share my faith with a person in my foursome. Christ’s light was shining into the darkness that can fall over a competitive round for me.
Christ’s light was shining into the darkness that can fall over a competitive round for me.The golf course isn’t the only place where we can “come to the light.” With all the concerns of our world today, we have a chance to shine the light of righteousness almost anywhere we go—at least if there are other people there.
Here’s an adaptation of today’s passage in The Message:
This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.
Jesus is the light of the world, and he pours that light into all who believe in him. But we all are guilty of running into darkness. We leave those “working and living in truth and reality.” It’s a bad mistake, and we often know we are doing it.
This is why every day we need to choose to live in the light, where we are not ashamed for our deeds to be out in the open, because they are deeds that honor the Lord. When we remember that we are forgiven by his grace and mercy, we stop hiding our sins. God is so good that we want to please him and live in the light!
—
Dereck Wong
October 7, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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