“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30, NIV)
It may be rare, but some days golf is so enjoyable that you don’t even notice the shoddiness of your play.
The company you keep can have much to do with this. So can the surroundings. Or the weather. Or the simple relaxation.
In other words, it’s not just the good shots that keep us coming back. Maybe it’s the blending of all that is good about golf.
When a corporate team is well-constructed, we often find in their midst three kinds of people. There are those who see magic in the details. They love a plan and when the plan comes together. These people lead with their heads. Then there are those who feed off the synergy of the team and the interwovenness of the relationships. They love watching how each person contributes and seeing the pleasure they each take from the process. These are the team-builders, and they lead with their hearts. Finally, there are those who just want to “get the job done.” The more they check off their to-do list, the more the activity empowers them. These, we might say, are those who work with their hands.
Intriguingly, a life well-lived in the kingdom has a similar appearance. To know God, to love him and to serve him, is to engage our heads, our hearts, and our hands. Sure, each of us may tend in one of these three directions, but the “premium blend” emerges when all three support one another. Watch:
As I get to know God, I fall more in love with him, leading me to serve him with increasing desire, direction, and diligence.
But we might also say that when I serve God, I see how beautiful (and loving) his plan is for me, and I set about finding out even more about him, so that I may serve him better still.
A balanced walk functions well in either direction!
Often, when we first start our walk with Jesus—and certainly before this—we look at the requirements of service and we think, No way! That is asking too much! But as we commit ourselves to obeying him and experience the wonder of walking with him, we realize the truth in Jesus’ words, “My yoke is easy.” The reason behind this should be evident by now. It is easy because we are yoked to him! We move at the pace he sets for us, a pace that comes from his gentleness and humility.
To know God, to love God, to serve God—these are the actions of an earnest disciple. Each one and all together, they comprise the work of those who follow Jesus. Let’s be about such business until the day he receives us into his presence.
—
Jeff Hopper
March 17, 2014
Copyright 2014 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.