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Read Thursday’s devotion (5/8/2008)

Friday, May 9, 2008

TWO TIMES PATIENT

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)

Good golfers know that the game requires two degrees of patience. The first of these is shot to shot and hole to hole. You must take your pars as they come on the demanding holes, not forcing the issue against the risks of near and penal hazards. You await your birdie opportunities with cool patience.

The second degree of patience has to do with the development of our own game. As each week goes by, and we add each practice session to our progress, the serious player begins to see results. And as various shots are added to a player's repertoire, he or she can begin to use these shots with confidence on the course. But trying something new before its time can result in disaster.

Our lives in Christ likewise require two degrees of patience.

First, there is the "small picture" patience that counters the vagaries of any given day. When another person acts in a way that harms or inconveniences us, how do we respond? With frustrated anger or with easy patience? Paul's fruit of the Spirit, revealed to the Galatians, includes this kind of patience. It's an in-the-moment recognition that God is sovereign, unveiled in our responses to trouble.

But there is a "big picture" patience we are to possess as well. The Bible paints this patience with a meaningful if now infrequently used word: longsuffering. It is worked out in the willingness to let God's plan run its ordained course.

Peter addressed this long-term patience in his second New Testament letter. The apostle took the time to remind those "who have obtained a faith by the righteousness of Christ" that their Savior would return. It was a promise that Peter hoped would govern their actions. Yet some were beginning to grow restless, asking when this return would happen.

Peter told them that God is not slow but patient (longsuffering). What is God waiting for? Nothing less than that "all should reach repentance." Whoa! Only in our own self-adoration can we ignore such a reason. We must instead become what God is: exceedingly patient, waiting for Him that others might have what we have.

--

Jeff Hopper

May 9, 2008

Copyright 2008 Links Players International

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Our current writers:

Stephen Bunn is the southeast regional director for College Golf Fellowship. He resides in Birmingham, Alabama. Past ministry includes years stateside and abroad with Campus Crusade for Christ. He gets to the range more often than the course.

Steve Burdick is the West Coast regional director for College Golf Fellowship. He resides near Sacramento, California. He was a member of the last national championship team at Stanford University, but is happy to get out once a month these days.

Brad Davis has served more than 30 years in pastoral ministries, primarily in California. He currently resides outside Seattle. He returned to golf several years ago and remains crazy about it, though he likes it much more when he’s playing with friends.

Tom Gray is the Links Players Southeast Region Director, overseeing the development and activity of Links Fellowships from his home in Atlanta. A former quarterback at Vanderbilt University and a long-time pastor, Tom is now turning his athletic attention to his golf game.

Tracy Hanson is an LPGA Tour player who has written several articles through the years for the Links Letter magazine.

Jim Hiskey is a former PGA Tour professional and one of the founders of the Tour Bible study and the Links Letter. He travels in the States and abroad with Fellowship Ministries, reaching out as a relational evangelist.

Jeff Hopper is the editor of the Links Letter, the Links Daily Devotional, and is executive director of Links Players International. He is also lead pastor of The Father’s House Christian Fellowship in Fresno, California. He played two years of college golf and now gets out about three times a month.

Brian Viers is a businessman in Kankakee, Illinois, who also shares time in Tampa, Florida. He serves on the board of Links Players.

Randy Wolff is the South Central Region Director for Links Players. He is a former PGA Tour professional and has more than 25 years of experience in business and ministry.

Dereck Wong is the Southwest Region Director for Links Players. Based in Orange County, California, he assists men and women in forming Links Fellowships in and around their clubs and courses.