“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, NASB)
First you have to understand the backstory and how our group came together. It is about connection and friends being friends.
Our foursome consisted of some good ole boys from Beaumont, Texas, dating back years ago. That was the original connection. Now it is our love for Jesus. One of the friends is still convinced that Jesus started his ministry on Highway 90 in Beaumont. When we were in Israel with Links Players president Jeffrey Cranford a few years ago, he pointed out that Highway 90 leading to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus actually did start his ministry—but for Beaumont boys, Highway 90 will forever run through Beaumont. Surely Jeffrey, a native Texan himself, understands this!
We four men intentionally renewed our friendship in 1999 and formed an alliance to be there for each other. We pray for each other at 8:28 a.m. each day. We have taken many golf trips in the last 21 years and have had a lot of devotional and prayer time together. Our life experiences have led us through many valleys and some mountaintop experiences along the way. We have buried a spouse and attended the funerals of kids and grandkids. All of us have had some life challenges that have driven us to our knees.
For these reasons, our time together at a recent golf tournament was special. I prayed that this would be an important and significant time regardless of what we score we returned. That is what you say—“It is about the fellowship”—when your golf games are no longer competitive. My prayer continued to be that this time would be relevant and meaningful and not just another golf tournament with distant memories of four-putts, flubbed chip shots, and near misses. I know you understand.
Relationships with Jesus and good friends always trump the trophies.While there, we intentionally carved out time to hear from each other and bring a lesson from Scripture to the group. We all had specific prayer requests and needs. My prayer was answered. It may have been the best time we have had together since 1999 because we were intentional. We made time to do this. We were transparent and attentive as well.
Connection to each other starts with study and connection to God apart from each other. Today’s verse from John 15 explains the part we play to stay close and connected to him. Abiding is not a formula or precondition for success. It involves intimacy and closeness, so that our will becomes conformed to God’s will. Now when we ask of him, we ask in his will and not our own. And he just might answer our prayer with, “Yes, and here is a lot more.” Just as he did on our golf trip.
We did not win, but we did laugh a lot. My partner has copyrighted the phrase, “I love playing golf with everyone but myself.” He also exploded after a muffed chip shot and exclaimed, “That’s why I don’t play on the weekends!” We told the same stories. The old stories become new as we get older. And we forgive each other easily, because we all know the one who has forgiven it all.
Staying connected to God first spills over to connection with each other. One hundred years from now, our connection to Jesus will still be important. Relationships with Jesus and good friends always trump the trophies. Abide. Stay connected. That is the real trophy.
—
Randy Wolff
October 5, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.