Monday, April 20, 2015

Devotion 4.20.15

Jordan Spieth.  That is a name most of us recognize now after his Master's victory two weekends ago.  Spieth seems to be respected and respectable. When most athletes leave their respective sports from the college level to go pro, we make comments of doubt more often than not.  Spieth, on the other hand, has been blessed with an ability to appear humble, gracious, and well-mannered which has served him well on his decision to leave UT at 19 to pursue the PGA.  He's come close on several occasions (one week earlier in Houston in fact), but when he finally won a tournament and a major, he did so in dramatic fashion.  The only other name to appear with those numbers is Tiger Woods.

It is said that Spieth will not do for golf what Woods did.  Woods brought in an entirely new view to golf which popularized the sport unlike any other golfer before.  Spieth, if he maintains his current persona, will probably have his followers, but they are already within the game.  I was personally saddened when Tiger's life, personal and professional, crumbled, but I am reminded that we seem to like to watch the mighty fall.  Regardless of circumstances (Tiger has those who have no sympathy for him to those who would like to see him do well), when Tiger fell, it was with a boom! and not just a whimper.

So, what will Spieth's journey be?  It has yet to be written and is a blank slate in his short life to date.  Fortunately, in Christian terms, we don't have to talk in such ways.  Our journey begins when it begins.  Some are brought to faith early, baptized by their parents and receiving the Spirit's gift of faith in Christ Jesus, for it is the Spirit that writes that faith on our hearts.  Some arrive later in life, yet we all benefit in that decision.  Is that fair?  To God, it is his righteousness that determines "what is fair." 

In Luke 15, we see two sons.  One young and irresponsible, he wants his share of the inheritance early and goes to party like there literally were no tomorrow.  The older son, the responsible one, stays with the father and works.  When the younger one exhausts his money and eats what he's feeding the pigs, realizes what he had with the father and returns telling his father he is "no longer worthy to be called your son." (21)  The father's reaction is different.  He is over-joyed and orders a feast and fine clothing.  The older son is angered by this, so the father tells him, "What's mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive;  he was lost, and is found." (31 - 32)

Where are we on our journey with Christ?  What about others we know?  Where are they?  If they are lost, we pray that they be found, and perhaps serve as that vessel to bring them to Christ.  If they are on the journey with us, do we encourage them and hold one another accountable?  Do we treat each other in that love Christ showed us?  Pray that we do.

Hope Men's Ministry

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