“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)
Suddenly, I have great empathy for many of you who are reading today. In Southern California, no one ever tells us to stay inside. As golfers, we’re outdoors as much as possible, enjoying our mild climate year-round. The stay-at-home orders that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic mean a lot of adjustment for my wife and me—and for most of our friends and fellow Links Players. We miss our golf!
In these different times, our best option for meeting is technology. Some of it is familiar. Like the old salesman I am, I have been using the phone a lot, and our Fellowships have been using Zoom. I’ve started to call all our leaders “the communicators,” because there is so much talking to be done. And I’ve been encouraging them all to hold on to Jesus’ promise of peace, because it is so easy to become troubled or afraid at times like this.
Let’s take a closer look at this encouraging passage as presented by Eugene Peterson in his paraphrase, The Message:
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”
As golfers, we should be used to things being backwards. In the same way, Jesus looks at life differently than the way the world does.I know this seems backward. When nothing is like we are used to, it feels like we should be more worried, not less. But Jesus was saying that he would supply us his peace, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit.
As golfers, we should be used to things being backwards. I was reminded of this recently when a Links Player friend sent me an email. In it, he talked about how we often do things in reverse with our golf swing. For example, we swing out to the right to create a left spin. We swing down at the ball, but the ball flies up.
Then he wrote about how Jesus and what Jesus valued don’t look like what the world considers important. Here’s what he said:
Re the Word, it teaches us that Jesus is a king and a priest…. didn’t come to earth for power and to rule but to serve and be humble…. worldly values are opposite of heaven’s values…. He didn’t teach to hate our enemies but to love them….He didn’t demand us to make a sacrifice to Him, He became the sacrifice that atoned our sins.
On Palm Sunday as a King he didn’t come into town riding a stallion, He came into Jerusalem riding an ass. He didn’t ask his disciples to kiss His feet, no, He turned around and washed their feet….. He was God, powerful, rich, a King, but He came into this world poor and weak so that we could be saved and then we would become rich with an eternal life of being with Him in heaven….. I can go on but you get what I am trying to communicate.
I hope this encourages you to focus on the opposite of what the world tells us to do. Focus on what the word of God tells us. Peace will then come upon you. My new saying lately is: “Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay in Prayer, and Stay in His Word!” Use it to encourage others.
—
Dereck Wong
April 6, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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