Christ is all, and is in all. (Colossians 3:11b, NIV)
This may not be politically correct, but I am not a fan of Tiger Woods. I cannot relate to him for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that “he plays a game with which I am not familiar” to quote Bobby Jones describing Jack Nicklaus in 1965.
In a recent article in Golfweek (March 29, 2013), Jeff Rude wrote this: “Yes, Woods is a master at compartmentalizing, at focusing on what he can control, at focusing on just the details of golf execution within the ropes.”
There is a lot of merit in compartmentalizing so we do not dwell of the last shot or our last failure, and the Apostle Paul also could do the same: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Two questions here. First, what can we really control? I mean really control. And if we get good enough to control the flight of a golf ball, who then gave us the ability to hit that white object at that distant target? In actuality, there are so many things out of our control. What about that drunk driver who is out of control heading your way? What about a terrorist strike at the finish line of the Boston Marathon?
I love this new rendition of the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, change the ones I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.”
Even the power and ability to control your changed life comes from God who does the transforming as we make the choices for change. My life is in the hands of a God who really is in control. Thanks be to God for His sovereignty and control!
Second, isn’t Christ himself all and in all? He is not in one compartment on Sunday and another on Monday. He is all that we need, and he is in all that we do. The Scriptures teach us that God is everywhere and is with us always. One big compartment.
In my early Christian life, I lived life in compartments. I was good on Sunday and could say the right thing to the right people. I could also mix it up pretty good with the heathens on Monday. I now know differently. The Christian life is personal, but it is not private. Life with God is not lived in compartments.
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Randy Wolff
May 7, 2013
Copyright 2013 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.