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APRIL 9, 2010
COMINGS AND GOINGS
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer... Once when
we were going to the place of prayer... (Acts 16:13,16, NIV)
Sure, you can work some things out in the basement. With a fairly small investment in a mat and a net, you can beat the
winters, keeping your swing loose and your contact crisp, while you wait for real golf.
But for real golf, you’re going to have to leave that basement. You’ll need to load your clubs in your car
(or your cart). You’ll need to make arrangements with the pro shop. You’ll need to break out a golf ball, tee it up between the markers on the first hole, and let it fly. Then you’ll be
playing real golf.
Life is comprised of these kinds of comings and goings. Some are about the journey, others about the destination. We
live with these movements. Willingly.
When it comes to the practice of our faith, however, we can grow lazy, bucking the traditions in favor of meeting God
“right where I am.” In fact, it’s a virtual tenet of contemporary evangelicalism that God will meet us “right where we are.” No argument here. We know the stories of golfers
who have literally dropped to their knees on a driving range somewhere and offered their first prayers of surrender to God.
But today’s passages from Acts point to an intentional act of value as well. Those in Paul’s entourage left
the comfort of the place they were staying and moved themselves to a quiet place near the river, with this goal in mind: prayer.
Religion, when it does not involve the heart, is dead in its roteness. The babbling, repetitious prayers of the pagans,
Jesus said, went unheard.
But religion involving the heart leads to the pursuit of special places where we can engage God with focus. Those who
would sing do well to head to acoustically excellent buildings. Those who would serve in mercy make their way to the prison or the rescue mission. Those who would study meet with others in shared
discovery. And those who would pray get themselves to a place of peace.
It may be indecorous to say so, but sometimes true religion is about getting off your butt and meeting God in a special
place!
--
Jeff Hopper
April 9, 2010
Copyright 2010 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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