But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15, ESV)
Chapter 1 in my book Getting To Scratch is about using the equipment that is best for your game. That includes the right golf ball.
I played recently with a friend who said he’s using LBF balls, and I said I didn’t know the brand. He said it stands for Last Ball Found. That was funny, and definitely frugal, but not particularly good for your game.
The truth is, almost every part of your equipment can have an impact on your score. Uncomfortable shoes, grips that are worn, and even clothes that don’t fit can cost you strokes.
Of course, the equipment we think about most is our clubs. Few of us would use LDF (Last Driver Found). On the other hand, perhaps few of us would spend the time and money to get a professional fitting. But I just did.
It took as much time as a round of golf, I hit more shots (by a lot) than I would in a round, and I learned things about my clubs that surprised me. My goal was new irons, or at least new shafts, but this time I wanted to look at every club except my putter.
Paul was chosen and shaped. He was weighed and measured and inspected.
Ultimately I ordered a new driver and new irons, keeping my 3-wood, hybrid, and wedges. But the fitter adjusted the weight on every one of those. Though I had hit them fine, they weren’t quite right. I hit them better now.
As I write, the new clubs are being made. Instruments of precision to carry out particular tasks.
While I’m excited about that, it has caused me to think of something more exciting—that God has been shaping each one of us into an instrument for his purposes.
He told Ananias that Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) was “a chosen instrument.” Paul was not simply a Last Person Found that God was going to throw into the fray. He was chosen and shaped. He was weighed and measured and inspected. Finally, he was ready to be put into play.
My fitter said it would take me a week to learn the distances on my irons and another week to trust those distances. The irons won’t be as effective at first as they will be later. The same is true for us as we are used by the Lord for his purposes, but when we are fully in the hands of the one for whom we were made, what a game that will be!
—
Lewis Greer
July 14, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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