“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 8:10-11, NIV)
Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but Tiger Woods is back.
When we make an ongoing effort to deepen our relationship with Christ, we prepare ourselves for the next test.OK, so you’ve probably heard that already. It was certainly the buzz of the golf weekend, brought to you from lovely Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. (And now I have incited the lust of every snowbound golfer everywhere. Alas.)
As much as Woods’ play, I found an interview he did last week about equipment and how he tests it to be fascinating. So often, when you hear Tour players talk about technology and equipment and swing paths, they drift into arcane language that leaves the Average Joe feeling even less than average. But the Woods interview contained some nuggets that would help many Joes like you and me.
In talking to PGATOUR.COM’s Jonathan Wall in an interview titled, “‘Trust Your Hands,’” Woods had this to say:
I’ve always tested, though, when I’m actually hitting well. I don’t want to test when I’m hitting poorly because then I think you can find a club that’s going to Band‑Aid it, and you really don’t know what truly is going to happen when your game turns around.
There’s some very good theology in that statement, and I don’t want you to miss it.
In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses spent much time speaking pastorally to the people, reminding them of the laws of God and giving them down-to-earth advice on how to apply it.
By the time we reach the eighth chapter, we find him looking forward to the Promised Land. With concern. The leader of the people warned them of the comfort zone, we might say. He didn’t want them lulled into complacency.
We may not think of the good times as a test. In fact, we may call good seasons a blessing from God and put our lives on spiritual cruise control. Sadly, many people live their whole lives like this. They wait to go to God when things aren’t going their way. In Tiger’s theology, they are satisfied enough to attach God as a Band-Aid to their circumstances.
Woods actually went on to say that he works very hard in the days leading up to a test, because he wanted the results to be as accurate as possible. What a charge to us as men and women of God! When we do not allow ourselves to grow complacent, even when blessings are poured upon us, and when we make an ongoing effort to deepen our relationship with Christ through obedience to him and prayerful, meditative time with him, we prepare ourselves for the next test. We are then living the life of Job, the righteous man who would not curse God even in the darkest imaginable hour.
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Jeff Hopper
January 29, 2018
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.