See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1, ESV)
Have you been enjoying golf on TV as much as I have? This past weekend’s RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island was a joy to watch. It is not the longest course on the tour, but the tight fairways, large oak trees and small greens make it one of the better tests on the tour. It was certainly strange not to see fans out there, especially looking down eighteen with the famed lighthouse in the background, but… we had GOLF!
This past Sunday was also Father’s Day. We are accustomed to watching the US Open on but this year, because of the Covid-19 precautions, the Tour was at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina and not Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. That did not stop the players from giving their usual shoutouts to their fathers.
Today happens to be the day my earthly father was born 94 years ago. He died at the age of 68 (my current age) after a long struggle with leukemia. My father was a man of integrity. He loved my mother, my brother, and me well. He taught me by example how to be a better husband, caring grandfather, honest businessman, and loyal friend. I was raised to respect all people “because all people are made in the image of God.” I could say a lot more, but suffice it to say my father was a man of great character.
I had a very good earthly father, but my desire is to be an even better spiritual father.Not all those reading this can say the same about their earthly father. Maybe you had an abusive father, an absent father, or a father who battled addictions. Perhaps your father abandoned you; maybe you have never even met your earthly father. Some of you may be feeling a bit guilty right now because you have not been the kind of father you believe you should be. Maybe you blew it big time. Or perhaps you can’t relate to the father thing at all because you don’t have children.
Let me flip the switch here and ask you to stop thinking only in the physical and start thinking in the spiritual. My wife and I were both widowed 10 years ago after long marriages to godly spouses. When we married, we knew we would not have biological children, but our Links Players president Jeff Cranford told us to focus on birthing and raising up spiritual children. Jeff said, “Some of those spiritual children may even be older than you.”
All believers have a heavenly Father and he is good Father (see Matthew 23:9 and James 1:17). He loves us more than any earthly father ever possibly could. We also have spiritual fathers who helped guide us on our journey to Jesus. Please understand that while I have been using the words “spiritual father,” I am not saying women are not part of this, too. So for you, the term would be “spiritual mothers.” These individuals help us mature and grow in the Lord, the way my earthly parents helped me. Likewise, we can and should look for opportunities to be spiritual fathers and mothers to those in our respective circles.
Are most of your conversations at your club lately revolving around the many concerns in our world? I would encourage you to make more of them focus on raising up children, be they biological or spiritual. I had a very good earthly father, but my desire is to be an even better spiritual father. Friend, will you join me today in asking God to show you people at your club that might someday say you are their spiritual father or mother?
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Marty Jacobus
June 24, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.