Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ… (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)
Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1993
Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
CBS commentator Jim Nantz welcomes Bernhard Langer to Butler Cabin. They sit facing each other. After congratulating Bernhard on his second win, Nantz asks him, “Of your two wins, which is more special?”
Bernhard had told a friend the night before that if he won his second Masters, he hoped to share his faith to the millions watching on television.
Nance’s question couldn’t have been better.
“This one was more special,” Bernhard said, “because I won on the day of my Lord’s resurrection.”
When we originally wrote the LinkS acrostic, the L and S of LinkS were both capitalized to remind Links Players we begin with the Great Commandment—Loving God with our whole being—and end with the Great Commission—Sharing Jesus through the great vehicle of golf.
We cannot expect to experience what Bernhard did, but we can follow his example and be prepared to give an answer for our faith when asked. Our Butler Cabin may be the dining room at our club, the living room in our home, or the office where we welcome clients. Any of these places may become an arena of opportunity. The followers of Christ on the Tour call this “using their platform.”
All of us who follow Jesus have a high calling to use our particular platform, too. We are ambassadors of the King of heaven, “entrusted with the Good News” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NLT). We are to reflect Jesus through our lives and lips.
Jesus rewards those who share him with others, but has stark words for “…whoever is ashamed of me and of my words… of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory…” (Mark 8:38).
—
Jim Hiskey
December 14, 2016
Copyright 2016 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.